The two stories "Windows" and "Devoted Son" both have the same universal theme. Happiness is not based on wealth or material objects. When Leah was growing up she lived in poverty but was still happy where as the old man was wealthy yet still unhappy. Leah and the old man became happy emotionally not materialistically, and both Leah's and the old man's families were materialistic and unhappy.
Leah grew up on a small farm in Estonia, and was not very wealthy. She had to share a bed with her sisters. Even though she did not have a lot of money, she was still happy and enjoyed life. She found happiness through playing with her sisters and friends, and from the beauty of nature. None of these things require money. The old man lived with his wealthy son. He had everything money could buy; a nice house, nice car, nice things. One thing that made him very happy was food. He could have any dish he wanted where he lived, but he was not allowed to eat anything he liked. The old man had everything one can acquire with wealth, but none of these things could make him happy.
Leah and the old man found happiness emotionally, not materialistically. The window itself did not make Leah happy, but what the window represented did. The window represented her youth, which made her remember her happiness as a child. The window reminded her of happy she was, and reminiscing about her past made her feel that happiness again. The old man had everything from great wealth to great healthcare to prolong his life, but he could not find happiness through these things. His idea of happiness was living life to the fullest until the end, but he did not get to. It reached a point where he could not do anything that made him happy because it was all bad for his health. He was so miserable that the only thing that could make him happy was death, and it did. He did not need money or nice things to reach happiness.
Leah's family was very materialistic.
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