THE SENSE OF AN ENDING
A critique on the novel
The sense of an ending, a 2011 novel, written by a British writer, "Julian Barnes". The entire story of the novel is narrated from the point of view of the protagonist named, "Tony Webster". Who is a retired man of 'sixty' recall ing the school days of three friends along with him, with the arrival of a new and cleverer friend than them, named "Adrian Finn".
The novel as based on psychological thriller, class conflicts, relationship problems, meditation on ageing and inconsistency towards memory. It reflects accordingly onto the entire novel. Taking position of himself as a man of sixty, Tony Webster narrates the entire story through his point of view, which begins with fragmentation of memory(where one sees inconsistency in recalling as it is recollected through pieces of incomplete sentences). He begins firstly by introducing his school days; where Alex, Colin, he(himself) and Adrian are put in Frontline. The three are all alike, regarding towards the approach of life as they think being in school and learning sincerely in a way is like, their freedom of living free is snatched away, and there they have to moderate their desires, while youth is susceptible to fulfillment of desires. On the contrary Adrian is so different(he keeps his mind to himself and eyes down). They address him as a "scholar material" for the professors, who build interest in him as craving to know more about him and his experiences. Likewise is reflected on and often, whenever any professors, whether of History or English ask questions, to which he always replied distinctly that made them appal and wonder for a moment as if he isn't bewitched by witches/has grace of some miraculous things. When one is away from such extra-ordinary gifts, though gained by tremendous hard-work, the person who is experiencing for him/her this experience is something strange/unique which will place that personality on a higher level, while he himself doesn't consider himself as privileged to be.
E.G.: When Old Joe Hunt asks everyone about: 'what according to you is History'. Tony Webster answers as 'the history is lies of the Victors'. Colin feels it as it is 'a raw onion sandwich' while Adrian replied differently: "The history is that certainty produced at the point where the imperfections of memory meet the inadequacies of documentation". The latter made explanatory with Robson's suicide that how his mother is now no more, and his girlfriend has disappeared. It was said: "While Robson died, his girlfriend was pregnant" so she should be perceived as pregnant at present but is this the literal truth? Perhaps the baby has been aborted by the girl since noone in this world can set free someone by being only a parent of the child, still remaining only as a female parent. If suppose accepted then she has to go through many unexpected struggles. People won't let her live, as she wants to or may be by keeping a suspicious eyes, inflicting her with more pain and penance. Therefore who would choose such kind of life? Musingly, noone. If chosen to it is as 'knowingly pushing oneself into hell' and if wanted to choose, we already have an example from 'The Scarlett Letter' where Hester Prynne is already playing this role.
Thus what is existing today, can't relate with the past as noone knows considering all encircling aspects of society.
(How an only female has to made his way alone, as the crime as perceived by the society is something that is sinful and for that society one has to pay to this much extremity, and if not paid, none knows how she would be treated{it is as if one wants to inflict pain on others, doesn't literally throw stones, but do something that make them uncomfortable and unwanted, this in itself a painful infliction on them).
It appears from their demeanor towards living life that they want to lead carefree life, don't want to abide with the rules, the life is trying to imposing upon, wants to befriend with the professors and so when professor Dixon addresses them as "gentlemen" they pleased in, though they don't deserve such honorary title(It is also said we only crave for, what we don't have, if suddenly encountered with, gives one unbounded pleasure).
Later on in the novel, we come to know the novel had jumped into another phase, where there is the talk on relationships. Tony's relation with Veronica, Veronica's with Adrian, subsequently Adrian's with Sarah Ford(Veronica's mother) and Tony Webster's with Margarett. We will do only a brief critical review on Tony and Veronica's relationship.
One is clearly able to notice, both is having different personality type. One believes in history and another in love with poetry along with acceptance that poetry is abundant in material therefore won't loose the content. They differ paralelly, regarding the preference of music. Thus at times it shows Tony rather than understanding these differences and giving it acceptance, surfaces on and often the thing going in his unconscious mind, that makes him socially awkward and at times uncomfortable, subsequently stimulants this feeling more that transforms into emotion and so is ingrained in mind, that can't be doused easily. If seeing this same thing on Veronica's side, she seems to be as though and if seeing as an observer it is adequate in approach as she belongs to such starta of society so there may be some ignorance and vanity, considering the other people, as she is since been living the life. That has made a lifestyle, thus habituated to such things, nothing else. If anything outside of this comes, it makes her uncomfortable or can be said, perhaps would take enough time, to get adjust into. While Tony is so hasty in his approach and therefore subjective, can't see anything in whole but by situating into cocoon only. I think therefore the problems regarding life, is surfacing and eventually aggravating. In a way he himself seems to be the only problem creator for himself and lacking understanding to understand others, as not able to be frank, creating his own stories/narrations for others, to which perhaps others are unaware.
If elaborating further on Veronica, she seems to be lacking in persuasive empathy, what seems to her a lifestyle, for Tony it becomes arrogance, what seems to her, her taste, for Tony it becomes showing off and as not believing in embracing, what seems to her, her frankness, seems to him as more carefree girl. Here Tony mental horizon appearing to be narrowing down, while Veronica, playing innocent, besides she isn't knowing even the things going in Tony's mind. If one knows one may have an appropriate and better solution but if one doesn't know anything, how one can negotiate in any way. Therefore Tony amuses by making his own stories for others; penetrates but sees what he only wants to see, and so unable to interpret the character adequately.
Thus we see here how the critique for the novel can be made, elaborated through the character of Robson, considering Adrian's theory on History and eventually by analyzing the both characters Tony and Veronica by giving the analyzation a touch of critique.
Works Cited
Barnes, Julian., "The sense of an ending." Published in 2011.
