Blog Post #9: The Sense of an Ending Creative Project

Egg carton diary

By: Sunny Chen and Chelsea Shi

       While The Sense of an Ending, by Julian Barnes, ends on an unclear note, it has an appropriate conclusion that reflects the ambiguity and fragility of life; our project represents this through the use of central motifs, character perceptions, and symbolic positioning and design.

       Barnes conveys the ambiguity of the past based on the perceptions of those involved. Tony and his professor’s definitions of history are “the lies of the victors” and “the self delusions of the defeated” (18). This quote, seen on the blackboard diary cover, reflects the learning scene of the novel and the bias of the knowledge gained. It encompasses a broad understanding of the deception throughout the story due to Tony’s point of view. Is Tony a victor? Is Tony a defeated? His point of view skews the novel in such a way that there is no guarantee in what Tony is saying is true. Along with the definitions of history, the gaps between the eggs represent the missing pieces of the story. Even though Tony states that Adrian Jr. is actually Sarah and Adrian Sr.’s son, there are various hints throughout the book that Adrian Jr. could be Sarah and Tony’s son. It is implied already that Tony had sexual encounters with Veronica’s mom, from where he wakes up and “only Mrs. Ford was around” to the strange “horizontal gesture at waist level” (31, 33). These are gaps in his memories that he forcibly suppresses in order to not blame himself or Adrian Sr. for Adrian Jr.’s life. In addition to this, Barnes chooses to style the novel in two parts - one where Tony restates the events leading up to Adrian’s suicide, and the other as Tony’s reflection of what really happened and what it meant. Even though Tony ponders the meaning of Adrian’s death, there is no certainty that what he is telling is the truth, as he slowly rediscovers bits and pieces of the story that he originally left out.

"History is the lies of the victors...and the self-delusions of the defeated" (18).

       The egg carton itself represents Adrian’s diary, the unknown reality of the situation that had occurred. Veronica “burnt it” before Tony could get the entire thing; her actions reflect how nobody is able to know the truth (101). However, Tony was able to obtain a small photocopied page with the last sentence being “So, for instance, if Tony…” (97). This partial truth indicates that what Adrian thought of Tony is lost, as is the rest of the secret behind his suicide. Tony does continue to brainstorm alternative endings to the unfinished thought. Through the repetition of “if Tony…” Barnes expresses Tony’s desire to know Adrian’s thoughts in an attempt to understand the implications behind Adrian’s death (97). As such, the diary represents the hidden story behind all that had occurred, the reason for those events, and the inability of the reader to fully comprehend the truth.

Character perceptions 

       The eggs inside the carton show the perspectives and traits of the major characters that played a hand in the catastrophic events that led to conclusion of the novel; this represents the fragility of the outside perceptions of each character and the fragility of life itself. As seen from Veronica’s lecture of Tony where she scolds him on how he “never did and never will” understand the truth, none of the perspectives of the characters are accurate. Tony sees Adrian Sr. differently than Veronica sees Adrian Sr. As such, none of the eggs can be cracked open, would would symbolically reveal the truth behind each of the characters’ motives and actions; yet, they still represent how easily it is to destroy an assumption, an opinion. While the fragility of one’s thoughts may not seem important, they in turn create the fragility of life. One action can lead to disastrous consequences, seen when Tony realizes that he was part of the “chain of responsibility” that led to Adrian Jr. existence and Adrian Sr.’s suicide (162). It was because of the “ugly letter” he sent to Adrian Sr., urging him “to consult Veronica’s mother” that created the domino effect. This is foreshadowed in Barnes’ writing when Sarah is breaking eggs almost as if she “enjoyed causing this small havoc” (31). The “cracked egg” is symbolic of Adrian Jr.’s disabilities and Sarah’s older age that caused it to happen, seen in the project as the cracks in eggs that represent Sarah and Adrian Jr. The eggs then portray Barnes’ message that life is fragile due to the flawed views of humankind.
       The perspectives in the eggs, flawed retellings from the quote and gaps, and the inability of comprehension through the diary presents the ambiguity of life. Through that, the fragility of life can be seen by exposing the truth, perceptions, and repercussions of each of the characters’ actions. This culminates in Barnes’ final message - that despite the unclarity of the truth, one must be accountable for their actions and the consequences that follow.