Negative Consequences of Living According to Other People’s Expectations “Party Under a Stone Wall” Anonymous 12th Grade

Happiness is thought to be linked to fulfilled expectations and living according to other people’s expectations. Expectations usually cause more harm than good, as demonstrated in Svava Jakobsdottir’s short story “Party Under a Stone Wall”. In this short story, the main character, Snorri, and his wife throw their first party to show off their newly built home. The couple builds and shows off their house, trying to fulfill expectations. However, this puts a lot of stress on an already fragile relationship between Snorri and his wife, and their financial situation. Therefore, Jakobsdottir demonstrates, through Snorri, how living according to other people’s expectations has negative consequences.

The construction of the wall is a way to live up to the club members’ expectations; however, it causes a rift between the couple. Influenced by one of her club members, the wife decides to build a wall; “That wall looks absolutely wonderful here. I told you you wouldn’t regret building it” (77). The members brag about how the stone wall would look “amazing”, creating an expectation that the wife had to fulfill: to build the stone wall and show it off. Snorri agrees to build it, trying to please his wife. Both of them prefer to please...