Response To Happy Endings By Margaret Atwood

In her short story “Happy Endings”, Margaret Atwood uses different literary techniques that can alter the interpretation of the story’s theme. The story starts off with a generic “fairy tale” ending in which a husband and a wife live a happy life together and eventually die. However, as the story progresses, Atwood’s style and tone makes the alternate scenarios of John and Mary give off a sense of uncertainty of what main ideas she is trying to convey. Good opening and thesis.

In “Happy Endings,” Margaret Atwood manipulates literary techniques to emphasize how each story can have different plots yet end up with the same ending. She makes the case that, in every ending, the characters finish having a happy ending and “eventually they die” (paragraph 4). She infers that it is the contents between the beginning, and the end that bring interest and challenge to the characters, while the beginnings are more fun. The “true connoisseurs” is an important element because it is what makes up the plot (paragraph 21). The six scenarios of “Happy Endings” introduce differences in the beginning and the middle of the plot but result in the same ending. The plot in each scenario focuses on the significance of understanding how

Story A of Happy Endings, is the ultimate story of love. Everything is smooth throughout the whole story and both characters are happy and live happy lives. We as the readers find out that John and Mary go on “fun vacations” and that their children “turn out well”. This is by far my most favorite story out of all six. I find it interesting and funny that Atwood uses

Happy Endings is an oddly structured, metafictional story; a series of possible scenarios all leading the characters to the same ending. Atwood uses humour and practical wisdom to critique both romantic fiction and contemporary society, and to make the point that it is not the end that is important, it is the journey that truly matters in both life and writing.

Endings are the saddest part, so just give me a happy middle and a very happy start.” "Shel Silverstein Facts." Shel Silverstein Facts. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.

American activist, Gloria Steinem stated, “If you say, I'm for equal pay, that's a reform. But if you say. I'm a feminist, that's a transformation of society” (“Gloria Steinem Quotes” 1). Steinem suggests society is one that involves many problems that feminism tries to address and fix but, to change it would take a complete reform of society. Margaret Atwood, also a feministic, uses her writing to expose the issues, stereotypes and, inequalities in society that feminism focuses on. Atwood’s feminism is established in her short story “Rape Fantasies” through her theme of vulnerability and examination of rape culture. The short story “Happy Endings” also by Margaret Atwood similarly presents her feminist views but through exposing and challenging stereotypes.

While reading Roxanne Gay's essay “The trouble with Prince Charming or he who trespassed against us”; I learned that she had her own definition of the common fairy tale or at least what she thinks as one. “There is a man and a woman – who must overcome some obstacle to reach happily ever after.” Which is true in some cases, nevertheless depending on what side of the story you're reading you can make it out, happily ever after or not. They’re plenty of real tales that don’t end sure-enough happy. You probably know Disney’s The Little Mermaid, which side do you know? Not to ruin your childhood, however the original tale wasn’t remarkably happy after all. In Hans Christian Anderson's original story the prince marries someone else and the little mermaid throws herself into the water and turn to sea-foam. Not Disney’s tale of Ariel beats the wicked sea witch and swimming off to marry the wonderful prince. Instead of using a fairy tale that doesn’t end happy or an original she uses “fairytales”, twilight and 50 Shades of Grey that fall under her definition of a common fairy tale.

My first text, The Notebook, has a happy ending for the couple in love in the book and for the readers as well. Allie and Noah overcome many different obstacles thrown at them, however, they find their peace with each other and stay together in love at the end of the book. Allie is forced to choose between another man and Noah, she follows her heart and chooses her true love, Noah. Nicholas Sparks has written this novel in a way which allows for the readers to fall in love with Noah’s character when he is forced to leave Allie. We feel sad and sympathise with him. When the end of the book comes and we read over Allies moment to decide, we almost feel the pressure Allie does in the hope that she chooses Noah. The happy ending in this novel then becomes a happy ending for the character and the reader. My second text, Pride and Prejudice also subverts to the romance genre as Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet fall in love with each other and get married by the end of the novel. Titanic also links closely to my connection as Jack and Rose are together in love, however, Jack dies in the Titanic incident leaving Rose on her own to live her life without him. As we listen to Rose tell her story of Jack's death, we see the very end of the film in Rose’s mind, where she is back on the Titanic and sees Jack. She is reunited with him once and for all in her dreams. All of these romance texts and films end with the

Happy Ending by Margaret Atwood is a truly unique story. This story is unique not because of the dialog, but because of the multiple endings that are within the story. The story follows the life of John and Mary. It is up to the reader to decide the life that John and Mary live. The reader can determine whether or not John and Mary have a happy life together or a complicated life together. However, no madder what choice the reader may chose, the story always ends the same way. Each of the endings results in death.

In the short story “Happy Endings,” Margaret Atwood briefly describes six different scenarios about the relationships of her two main characters John and Mary. Regardless of the different circumstances, all of the stories end in the exact same way—the characters die. The primary argument that Atwood is trying to illustrate is that the ending of one’s life is not what is important, but rather all of the components of their life that lead them to the end. Atwood also criticizes the existing marriage and gender roles during this time. She supports her arguments through her satirical introduction, her metaphorical scenarios, and her use of sarcasm and ridicule.

In every love story ever written the two lovers go through obstacles to be together. And so, in this story they must put aside their pride and realize that their prejudices were wrong, for them to realize the true character of the other person. They must separate themselves from society’s norms and notions and realize that their true love is right in front of them.

This irony is especially apparent in the final part of the story which draws direct parallels to popular scenes in romantic movies and books, where the characters are standing in the rain confessing their love for one another. It is ironic because instead of declaring their love, the characters in this story admit their unhappiness in the relationship and their want for it to end. Ultimately, both characters end up leaving very happy with the relationship coming to a close and James even stating that it was the “best night of his life”. The title of the piece Breakup Story is another play on the stereotypes found in romantic texts.

The options from A to F, although very short and greatly lacking in detail, are technically whole stories with beginnings, middles, and endings. Each alternative is peopled with the stock characters of romances: the user, the lovelorn martyr, the faceless another woman, the insecure older man, the heroic couple, the suffering couple, and even the couple of intrigue. Atwood asserts that a happy ending is the only possible conclusion, as “any other endings (are) all fake, either deliberately fake…or just motivated by excessive optimism if not by downright sentimentality” (513). Thus, the reader is challenged to either accept or deny the idea that romance can only authentically end in a happy ending, thus engaging him into questioning his expectations of such a story. At the same time, Atwood also makes an assertion as to what a “happy ending” looks like: marriage, kids, a good sex life, financial stability, etc.

Love is an amazing feeling that constantly inspires people to admire it in literature, cinema, music and other kinds of art. Many literal works are devoted to the description of this overwhelming feeling and its development. However, there is not much told about various challenges and obstacles lovers have to come across. Both the "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer and "Romeo and Juliet" by Shakespeare are great examples of love that is tested by various challenges and complications.

Arguments for the position held by Atwood with respect to the perfect ending to a work of fiction can be drawn from the societal relationships such as marriages and romantic affairs. These relationships are perceived as beautiful and comes with a form of fulfillment, thus should have a beautiful ending. Life should be easy and relationships should be successful. The ‘happy ending’ adopted by Atwood is an illustration of how easy life should be and how successful relationships such as marriages should turn out. She