Thinking Activity : Sense of an ending

1.  How do you understand memory and history with reference to your reading of this novel.

The novel speaks of the memory and history which has different parameters. The novel constructs aspects about the memory. We keep our memories but we can not rely on that. We constructs our memories through our perspective. Memory records about what happened, perhaps it is not recorded as it is. The first part is about 'imperfection of memory'. As Adrian refers "History is that certainty produced at the point where the imperfections of memory meet the inadequacies of documentations." We can say great history to personal memory. Inadequacies of documents can't makes the certain history. As in the novel Tony remembers imperfect memory in which he can not thinks of his deeds. History and memory both are very much connected because history is the part of our memories. Tony’s own tale of his student days is quite unreliable.

2. How do you understand the concept of suicide with reference to your reading of literature ranging from Renaissance play Hamlet, 20th century Existential Philosophy and this 21st century novel The Sense of an Ending?

 We have seen that Hamlet is deeply concerned with two broadly existential issues: consciousness and authenticity. Shakespeare's explorations of these philosophically rich ideas play a vital part in generating the energy and intensity of the play.In Hamlet, Shakespeare suggests that in order to understand freedom. We must confront the realities of death and human attitude. From the outset of the play, Hamlet contemplates the meaning of suicide.His father's unexpected death and his mother's swift marriage have led him to think about self-slaughter. Death is never far from his mind. It filtrates his language and imagery.Hamlet has fear of God that why he doesn't commit suicide. In existentialism we see suicide as an escapism, one should take responsibilities on their own.