Essay on "Do I Prefer and Ending or a Beginning to a Story?"
Essay 3 pages (1006 words) Sources: 1+
[EXCERPT] . . . .
Ending or a Beginning to a StoryEndings vs. Beginnings
Margaret Atwood's short story, "Happy Endings" is highly satirical, and allows for the author to propose some fairly important views regarding relationships and the nature of narratives and plots. The entire basis for this brief, somewhat hypothetical tale is the romantic relationship between a couple of characters. Although the author provides a number of alternate endings for the stories that involve the different characters, she warns the reader to "don't be deluded by any other endings" (Atwood). Essentially, Atwood makes this statement to underscore the fact that all endings are predestined and quite predictable, and result in the finality of death, which is why the narrator of the "Happy Endings" prefers beginnings.
The narrator of this tale actually makes a rather good point with the conclusion of the story, which offers the only true ending possible to the story -- the death of the characters. Despite the fact that there are varying letters (as in a multiple choice examination) that provide different endings for the characters, the only true end of their existence -- both individually and collectively, is with death. Therefore, Atwood concludes this short story by repeating the phrase that best sums up the true ending of the relationship between John and Mary "John and Mary die. John and Mary die. John and Mary die" (Atwood). As an ending, death is a foregone conclusion. The details in between, whether or not the characters are happy with one another or miserable and end up killing themselves or each other because of that misery, are mere details. No matter how happy or how sad they make on
download full paper ⤓
However, the narrator of this short story alludes to one extremely significant fact, and that is -- once one is able to overlook such a fatalistic view of endings associated with death -- that it actually is what happens in the time between beginnings and endings that truly counts. It is for this reason that Atwood writes, "True connoisseurs, however, are known to favor the stretch in between, since it's the hardest to do anything with" (Atwood). The truth of this statement is supported in other works of literature in which the endings, which are the product of what happens after the beginning of a tale, are actually more preferable to the beginning. An excellent example of this concept is found within Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. This novel actually illustrates a rather rocky beginning of a relationship between the main character, Elizabeth, and one of her main suitors, Mr. Darcy. However, the pair are eventually able to overcome their shaky beginning -- via the events that transpire after it and occur before… READ MORE
Quoted Instructions for "Do I Prefer and Ending or a Beginning to a Story?" Assignment:
Margaret Atwood: Happy Endings
Question: In this story, the author talks about endings. She says, *****˜don*****t be deluded by any other endings,***** What do you think she means by this? Does she prefer endings or beginnings? Find two other stories, one website and one book, and discuss whether you prefer endings or beginnings of these stories. Why or why not?
What do you have to do for this essay?
A typed up paper (4 pages or more, double spaced, 12 point font. You will turn in 3 pages answering the questions and the 4th page will be your MLA/ works cited. YOU WILL NOT BE GRADED FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT IF YOUR PAPER DOES NOT HAVE THE MLA WORKS CITED PAGE.
I enjoyed reading pride and predjudice,How it was complicated relationship in the beginning with Mr.Darcy and Elizabeth but it ended with a happy ending. ( I prefer happy endings) Can you please find a website that relates to this topic? or this type of relationship? Thank You.
How to Reference "Do I Prefer and Ending or a Beginning to a Story?" Essay in a Bibliography
“Do I Prefer and Ending or a Beginning to a Story?.” A1-TermPaper.com, 2012, https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/ending-beginning/94945. Accessed 4 Oct 2024.
Related Essays:
Isolation Has Been a Frequent Research Paper
Isolation has been a frequent topic of literature and fiction, but it developed into a distinct and crucial theme over the latter half of the nineteenth and beginning of the… read more
Research Paper 7 pages (2467 words) Sources: 7 Topic: Literature / Poetry
J.K. Rowling Was Unemployed When She Wrote Essay
J.K. Rowling was unemployed when she wrote the first Harry Potter book. Today, she is a billionaire. If that does not grab your attention, nothing will. She enjoys the material… read more
Essay 2 pages (622 words) Sources: 3 Topic: Mythology / Folklore / Science Fiction
Prostitution From the Beginning of Time Man Thesis
Prostitution
From the beginning of time man has searched for means of exploiting roughly all that he could find through more than one way. Since some people, didn't own much… read more
Thesis 8 pages (2765 words) Sources: 5 Style: APA Topic: Sexuality / Gender
Battle of Antietam Thesis
Role of General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Antietam
For a time, it looked like the South just might actually pull it off and succeed in the War… read more
Thesis 14 pages (4657 words) Sources: 20 Topic: World History
Edgar Allan Poe's Short Stories. This Theme Term Paper
Edgar Allan Poe's short stories. This theme is "burial and redemption." Indeed, the theme of burial occurs in several of Poe's short stories. While expanding on this central theme, reference… read more
Term Paper 11 pages (4034 words) Sources: 10 Style: MLA Topic: Literature / Poetry
Fri, Oct 4, 2024
If you don't see the paper you need, we will write it for you!
We can write a new, 100% unique paper!