The Sense Of An Ending Essay

“How often do we tell our own life story? How often do we adjust, embellish, make sly cuts? And the longer life goes on, the fewer are those around to challenge our account, to reminds us that our life is not our life, merely the story we have told about our life. Told to others but – mainly – to ourselves” (Barnes 100). This excerpt from The Sense of an Ending serves as a mirror for Tony as he reflects on his augmented memories. Its purpose is to unearth the ugly truth that we humans tend to always paint ourselves as good characters. In our own stories we are the main character, the hero. The embellished memories cause Tony to not recognize the cruel letter he sent years prior to his friend Adrian. Because of the alternative memories he

In King 153). This outlook on life contrasts with Tony’s outlook who wants to live a life out of literature. Tony, who spends majority of his young life, being an impostor. The hateful letter Tony writes to Adrian signifies that Tony simply cannot accept that Veronica went from him – a man pretending to be a deep intellectual – to a man who actually is an intellectual. At his current age he reflects that, “[he] had wanted a life not to bother [him] too much and had succeeded – and how pitiful that was” (Barnes 105). As Tony’s story unravels and he meets Adrian’s son, he still fails to see the consequences of his letter. Tony believes Adrian’s son is with Veronica, but he learns that she is his sister. In his letter to Adrian Tony directs Adrian to seek out Veronica’s mother. He says,” Even her own mother warned me against her. If I were you, I’d check things out with Mum – ask her about damage a long way back” (Barnes 101). Actions carry consequences. Barnes suggests that Tony’s wickedness towards Veronica and Adrian causes an irreparable damage. His words encouraged Adrian to seek out Veronica’s mother. His relationship with Mrs. Ford and the fact that he fathered a child with her, led Adrian to his