A Better Ending

 

      When I was considering what to blog about, my mind jumped back to the ending of my favorite movie, The Lord of the Rings. Then I was reminded of our talks about comedy and tragedy, and I made the connection between tragedy and a sad ending, and comedy and a happy ending. I think, however, that perhaps the best type of ending, and the most realistic type of ending, is neither of these, at least viewed from the perspective of Christians on this side of eternity. I think perhaps the best type of ending is the one that is least used, and that is the bittersweet ending.

I think that, in general, humans tend to always go to one extreme or the other, oftentimes forgetting that the truth many times lies in the middle. This is why there are so many people who either consider only tragedies to be "realistic" stories, and so many people who won't watch movies in which the main character(s) die at the end. The funny thing is, this is exactly how are lives end, is it not? We die, and yet are frequently afraid to die. Yet we must, in order to get our happy ending. Or what about those who die saving others? There is much tragedy there, yet their sacrifice means that another will get to experience more happiness. The funny thing about bittersweet endings, is that they are also the most complex of all endings. A happy ending will only give you joy, and a sad ending usually just makes people frustrated. But a bittersweet ending makes you feel a little of both, and is therefore in many cases more fulfilling. Have you noticed that nearly every book that people never want to end, always end with a bittersweet ending? Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia. What about movies? The Lord of the Rings (again), Saving Private Ryan, Gladiator, the Dark Knight trilogy, Toy Story 3. I think that deep in our hearts is a belief that the bittersweet ending is the most truthful ending, and perhaps that is why it is so rarely used. But you will find that oftentimes the most wonderful stories have bittersweet endings, and if they do not, then they still understand the beauty of such things. Even Winnie the Pooh did when he told Piglet : "If you live to be one hundred, I wish to live to be one hundred minus one day, so that I will never have to live a day without you."

Below I have included a recent wonderful (but sorely unheard of) 2D animated short film by Disney that beautifully illustrates the bittersweet ending.