Sense of an ending

Thinking activity: Sense of an Ending

This blog is a part of thinking activity given by our Professor. To view his blog click here


1. How do you understand memory and history with reference to your reading of this novel.

The main theme of the novel is history and memory. History is called macro narratives while memory is called micro narratives means it is personal one.

Memory is "unreliable" and there is always great unrest in history. This definition seems very healthy or true to life. It can be applied to everyone life. The memory which we have is all about our own thinking, it can be wrong, untruth or unreliable. We cannot come out in conclusion with our memories. When the same story of our life told by other then it will totally different then our perspective. It means memory keeps on changing based on various perspectives.

As Adrian refers "History is that certainty produced at the point where the imperfections of memory meet the inadequacies of documentations."

The last line of novel is ended with the statement by Tony that:
"There is accumulation. There is responsibility. And beyond these, there is unrest. There is great unrest."

2. How do you understand the concept of suicide with reference to your reading of literature ranging from Renaissance play Hamlet, 20th century Existential Philosophy and this 21st century novel The Sense of an Ending?

First novelistic suicide pattern merged in nineteenth century. Authors like Ernest Hemingway and Virginia Woolf include theme of suicide in their writing.In the journey of literature we have referred many texts and characters.

Hamlet-
In Shakespeare' s Hamlet Ophelia committed suicide by some particular reason. But Hamlet was mentally upset man though he doesn't think to like this.


In 20th century-
If we see suicide in 20th century Existentialist philosophy,then we can recall first Waiting for Godot. It is based on Existentialism and Vladimir and Estragon wants to committed suicide but they can't do it. They have not any responsibility in life though they don't do that. They have nothing to live life but they can't die also. If we see it as philosophical way that it means is when people are not able to maintain meaning that they are most psychotically vulnerable.

In 21st century-
By the reading of The Sense of An Ending, there are two people commit  suicide,Robson and Adrian. Both have different reason but why Adrian committed suicide is not clearly visible. Robson escape from his responsibilities and choose to die. He has fear about  lost of his morality and how society will treat him after knowing the reason.
But Tony Webster has not done this all things though he was the reason of damage of someone's life.  While character like Adrian who think that they have enjoy the life so now the time is coming to die and he committed suicide.

“I don’t envy Adrian his death, but I envy him the clarity of his life.”

He ended his life with certain clarity. He has a clarity of and death also. We all believe that life is gift, it our choice how we live it. As it is the death is certain decision to end our life with whatever reason. Adrian lives his life with this philosophy.


Thank You...