Freud

The failure of this mission by Carol is what ultimately led to her unhappiness and is inconsistent with Cohen's view that unhappiness is caused by fate. Her pessimistic attitude is also apparent throughout her stay in Gopher Prairie, specifically with her assorted reform projects. Carol does put effort into reforming the town, but if she isn't successful right away she gives up and places the blame where it might not be appropriate. Even if she isn't at fault, the fact that she was associated with a failure causes the sadness within her, not some unavoidable fate as Cohen thinks. This aspect of Carol's attitude is evident with her reform efforts with Will also.She did attempt it but after Will found no interest in the poetry they read she decided that it was her last try. The same pessimism is displayed through her project with the dramatic association. Carol put a great deal of time and effort into the play but when it failed she gave up permanently. She did begin to redeem herself for a moment when she declared she would go on in life but her pessimism again showed through shortafter. Clearly then, even though Carol was optimistic about reforming Gopher Prairie, at heart she was pessimistic. Consequently, her various failures are what led to her unhappiness opposite to what Cohen believes. .
             Furthermore, other Gopher Prairie citizens were satisfied, even though Carol may not have agreed with their ways of life and contrary to Cohen's view of happiness. Throughout the novel none of the characters truly expressed any prolonged unhappiness except Carol. Many characters were happy with their situation, which Cohen views as an impossibility, a prime example being Vida Sherwin. Vida, like Carol, sought reform within Gopher Prairie, but didn't let it consume her as Carol did. She was happy with living her life the way other the Gopher Prairie townspeople did and at the same time made small attempts at reform.