The Sense of an Ending

The Sense of an Ending’ (2011) is novel by Julian Barnes, which has recently won the ‘Man Booker Prize’, is a memory novel. Barnes artistically moves in specific direction with historical and literary references.  

Here is the link of given Blog Task:

http://dilipbarad.blogspot.in/2014/02/the-sense-of-ending-julian-barnes.html 

Respected Sir, 

Here is my response to given task:

1 What is the meaning of phrase ‘Blood Money’ in Veronica’s reply email?

The phrase “Blood Money” is reply to Tony’s email for Veronica. In that email he actually asked for why he was given 500 pounds by Sarah Ford; in reply to that he was received this response by Veronica (the phrase- “Blood Money”).

“Blood Money” is actually signifies that the one who is guilty of murdering someone ((or) thinks that they are directly or indirectly responsible after someone’s death) gives some money to the nearest one of the dead; is a kind of ritual of repentance.

Sarah Ford was guilty of her deed that she seduced Adrian and their physical relation caused her pregnancy for what Adrian took the decision of suicide. Therefore, Sarah Ford sent 500 pounds to Tony (as he was the nearest friend of Adrian).    

2 How do you decipher the equation?In both the equations:
   b = s – v x/+ a1 or a2 + v + a1 X s = b?

These equations are found in Adrian's diary; that solves the mystery of his suicide. According to which, 
B stands for “Baby”, S for “Sarah”, V for “Veronica”, a1 for “Adrian” and a2 for “Antony” (Tony).

The first equation does not involve Tony, but second does.  It reflects relation between Adrian and Sarah in absence of Veronica; which somewhere initiated by Tony’s advice for Adrian to meet Sarah Ford before get into a relationship with Veronica. And as the result of this a woman (Sarah Ford) above forty bears a child of Adrian in her womb and Adrian commits suicide. So indirectly Tony also became the cause of this chance and event.   

3 Adrian’s diary is willed to Tony by Sarah Ford. Why did Sarah Ford own it? Why was it in the possession of Veronica?

When Tony got the latter from Mrs. Sarah ford announcing her will according to which Tony will get Adrian’s diary and she also sends some 500 pounds to Tony without mentioning any reason pops up some certain questions like,

How Mrs. Sarah ford owning Adrian’s Diary? It may will obvious if this same latter sent by Veronica Ford instead of her mother. This also keeps Tony into little worry (as we never find him much bothered with these all). Second question now raise is why Mrs. Ford gave it to Veronica then? But till the end these questions desperately covered under some trivial incidents to maintain the curiosity among readers. This has unbelievable and thrilling disclosing of these questions that on the advice of Tony, Adrian met Mrs. Sarah Ford and was seduced by her and moreover Mrs. Ford became pregnant. But it creates more oddity to readers when she wrote in her latter that Adrian was so happy in his last days (how she was so sure about that?). This lastly disclosed with this that Adrian and Sarah Ford then continued into their relationship (not clearly mentioned in the novel) before Adrian commits suicide. And after Sarah Ford’s death (after giving birth to Adrian’s Child) this diary came in to possession of Veronica.

4 Was the mentally retarded middle aged ‘Adrian’, Tony’s friend who did not commit suicide and was suffering from trauma and thus gone mad, and was living with hidden identity?

No. Tony’s friend Adrian had committed suicide at his very early age. But, this middle aged man looks like Adrian; who is mentally retarded is the son of Adrian (one) and Mrs. Sarah Ford. He born mentally ill as he born by a mother above forty (to conceiving a fetus in a womb for a woman who has already crossed 40 years causes deformation in child and also affects its mental capability or creates psychological disorder).  Adrian (junior) is well cared by Veronica and then admitted in particular care center.  

5 How Veronica was related Adrian, the one suffering in care-in-the-community?

It is but obvious for any women to react against a betrayal in love. But the situation here is different with Veronica where her own lover comes into a relationship with her own mother. This is also true that to begin a relation with daughter’s lover was also the prior intention of Mrs. Ford. Veronica though cares for her mother until she died and also took care of her mother and Adrian’s disordered child. This situation seems tough when we discuss; but one who goes under this and still survive is unbelievable. Moreover we came to know by the end that Veronica got that latter, which was sent by Tony to Adrian in which he clearly mentioned that Mrs. Sarah Ford had warned him about Veronica and also congratulated him on their break up. Though, she (Veronica) kept caring for them, so we ultimately can say that it is Veronica the one who suffered in-care-in-the-community.

6 In the light of new revelations, how do you read character of Veronica? (Instinctive, manipulative, calculating, stubborn, haughty, sacrificial, trustworthy, Good Samaritan?)

When in the beginning Tony described about Veronica (his view of looking at her with their personal life experiences) was like she was instinctive, manipulative, calculating, stubborn and haughty; as she didn’t established any physical relation with Tony while they were dating each other. But, when they were up to broke up she readily slept with him; left the derogatory effects on Tony’s mind; which also we found in his latter to Adrian with full of abusive tone for Veronica, up till this Tony’s views for Veronica remains in highlight. But, with the moving further readers came across Veronica’s real face (as we discussed in previous question) she reveals with her sacrifice, trustworthiness and with her Good Samaritan (views build up by readers). Withal we find that she till the end remains single (as there is nothing mentioned regarding her past 40 years life- her husband and children/ nothing) unlike Tony- her first relation with him and got married and having children and family and also unlike Adrian- who cheated her with her mother also became a father of mentally retarded child. These all deconstructs her character which was first described by Tony. And Tony also apologies to Veronica when they meet after this long for his misbehave.

7 Do you see any possible reason in the suicide of Adrian?

       
       Adrian has always left his impact as most scholarly guy and having heightened as well in depth philosophical eyesight. His suicide unlike Robson's suicide which could be consider as immature decision. Adrian was not like him who afraid from problems in life or cannot move on while tackle them smoothly. But he was also unlike Tony and other of his friends; Adrian was too emotional. He was not disturb of break up with Veronica as well according to Mrs. Ford he was so happy in his last days also push us to think what possible reason can be there after his suicide. Here we get back to Old Joe Hunt and history and literature class; where Camus' philosophy is discussed; as Camus said "Suicide was the only true Philosophical question",

 “..He had explain his reasoning: that life is a gift bestowed without anyone asking for it; that the thinking person has a philosophical duty to examine both the nature of life and the conditions it comes with; and that if this person decides to renounce this gift no one ask for, it is a moral and human duty to act on the consequences of their decision.”

Adrian was somewhere in guilt for what he did and this guilt led him to end his life as may be he didn't find any possible reason of his existence. Thus, we can say that it was Adrian's philosophical force which led him to the verge of death. More of his death was desperate and thoughtful act, as he first get into the bath-tub full of hot water and cut his vain (which keeps his body warm and let the blood flow out easier way- ultimately no chance of being rescued).  

8 Do you see any missing block- some dot which is not getting connected with the whole or dot missing to get full sense of the novel- in the plot of this psychological thriller?

To put some puzzles, ambiguity and open questions (which are not answered within the text), is new way of narrating or putting forth the things for post modernist mindsets. Post modernist way of looking towards things or event is different from previous. They never easily put the things in order; they always make their readers to do quest for those missing parts. Sometimes it is left on their individual interpretation. As undoubtedly, this text ‘The Sense of an Ending’ also put into same category and considered as the post- modernist text; having some missing block, some dots which are stopping readers to capture whole picture of any particular incident.

‘The Sense of an Ending’ is a full of trivia. We find many a time Tony (our narrator) tries to postpone the truth under trivial incidents. In between many a thing left incomplete at the beginning and connected at the end. Still many things we find unexplained and incomplete throughout the novel. Like Mrs. Sarah Ford’s real character and her jealousy or disharmony with her own daughter Veronica. Equally her treatment towards Tony and relation with Adrian creates question like, did she want this relation with Tony also? Or her relation with Adrian was only to hurt Veronica or for step out from her unhappy married life. Nothing is clear. Even the last latter by Sarah Ford to Tony also push people to think on Adrian’s Suicide; as she said in her latter that Adrian was too happy in his last days; then why he needed to commit suicide?  These all things according to me remain as the resolvable puzzles.  

9 What do you mean by unreliable Narrator? Is Tony Webster classifiable as Unreliable Narrator?

Up till now we came across the simple narrative techniques. And the Narrator always remains mouth piece of an author. A narrator builds faithful relation between author and readers. But here Julian Barnes introduces us to a totally different style of narration; where for readers it is difficult to rely on the narrator. Barnes introduces his narrator with: “I remember, in no particular order…” thus it from the first creates constant dilemma among readers about his reliability. If we minutely observe then Tony considers himself average and he cannot understand the simple thing. Withal when he meets Veronica; she uses to say him that,

          “You just don’t get it! Do you?

                   You never did, you never will.”

This sentence repeatedly spoken by Veronica and then Bartender that also creates question in readers’ mind, then whatever Tony has shared till yet was better taken by him or not? Barnes’ narrator is not young fellow; who recently passed his university days and sharing his memory of collage days. Antony Webster is 60/62 years old man who hardly tries to recall his past days from his memory and narrates the events the way he remember for this long withal he has lack of evidence and documentation. So, he cannot prove it with accuracy. Thus, it is always remain a question of reliability of a narrator; which also lead readers to doubt on text.    

Thank You…