Literary Analysis Of Happy Endings By Margaret Atwood
The short story, “Happy Endings,” by Margaret Atwood contains both journalistic and literary elements. While sections of this short story may appear within a newspaper article had these events occurred, multiple elements in this piece would not be included. Atwood contribute a pleasant mixture of these elements to construct a successful work. Margaret Atwood displays the feelings and reasoning behind the actions of the characters, making this a literary piece. In “Happy Endings,” Atwood contributes a few expected elements to the piece. If an individual were reading this from a newspaper, the headline would not include John finding James and Mary in bed; however, it would include the action of John “shooting the two of them and himself,” (259).
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The first unexpected that occurs is John’s true feelings towards himself. John explains how “he’s middle-aged, in two years he’ll be bald as an egg and he can’t stand it,” (258). As a result of his age and physical appearance, John is feeling insecure about himself. The next unexpected element involves John’s secret lover, Mary. The reader learns that Mary’s true feelings for John are that she “feels sorry for him because he’s worried about is hair falling out,” (258). On the contrary, Mary’s falls in love with James because he “has a motorcycle and a fabulous record collection,” (258). Due to the addition of the insight from the characters’ feelings, the reader obtains a better understanding of why the expected events occurred. The last unexpected elements includes the additional information about Madge after the situation “marrying an understanding man called Fred and everything continues as in A,” (259). This additional information provides insight on Madge’s future that newspaper articles would not include. While reading “Happy Endings,” two events may surprise the reader. The first event being the continuation of Mary and John’s affair after Mary admits, “She sleeps with him even though she’s not in love with him,” (258). The reader would question Mary’s actions for staying with a man she does not truly like. The second surprise is the act of John killing not only himself, but
The first unexpected that occurs is John’s true feelings towards himself. John explains how “he’s middle-aged, in two years he’ll be bald as an egg and he can’t stand it,” (258). As a result of his age and physical appearance, John is feeling insecure about himself. The next unexpected element involves John’s secret lover, Mary. The reader learns that Mary’s true feelings for John are that she “feels sorry for him because he’s worried about is hair falling out,” (258). On the contrary, Mary’s falls in love with James because he “has a motorcycle and a fabulous record collection,” (258). Due to the addition of the insight from the characters’ feelings, the reader obtains a better understanding of why the expected events occurred. The last unexpected elements includes the additional information about Madge after the situation “marrying an understanding man called Fred and everything continues as in A,” (259). This additional information provides insight on Madge’s future that newspaper articles would not include. While reading “Happy Endings,” two events may surprise the reader. The first event being the continuation of Mary and John’s affair after Mary admits, “She sleeps with him even though she’s not in love with him,” (258). The reader would question Mary’s actions for staying with a man she does not truly like. The second surprise is the act of John killing not only himself, but