What is a happy ending?

by Jeannie Ruesch

If you are a romance reader and/or writer, you’re well acquainted with the “formula” for a romance novel – boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back and lives happily ever after.Β  The very formula that makes these stories so popular also constitutes its largest points of criticism.Β  How can any book that follows such a close formula be any good?

I think we all know that isn’t true.Β  Most of write and read wonderful books with that prerequisite ending attached.Β  In fact, the “happy ending” is a part of why I love romance novels to begin with.Β Β  The fact that I know the couple is going to end up together, no matter the odds they face, is comforting.Β  It allows me to trust the beloved genre enough to know I’ll get what I want — the feelings, the warmth, the belief that love can and does conquer all.Β  There are hundreds of thousands of romantic books that prove it.

But there are other types of novels, too, that exist with happy endings.Β  When you read a thriller mystery where the hero has to save the day or New York will explode, you know in the end, he’s going to save the day.Β  When you read a suspense novel or mystery novel, you know the protagonist is going to overcome the obstacles and reveal the killer, reveal the story, reveal the truth.Β  You know.

It’s satisfying.Β  It’s complete.Β  How many JD Robb books would you read if Eve Dallas never found the bad guy?Β  How many disaster movies would you watch if you knew, in the end, everyone was going to die and the disaster would ruin the world?

A “happy ending” gets a bad rap, in my opinion, but that’s because it’s most often ascribed to romance novels, chick flicks and romantic pairings.Β Β  But happy endings are more.Β  Some say that’s the difference between genre fiction and literary fiction.Β  And some say it’s the difference between “commercial” movies and all the rest.

Wikipedia says: Since the ending is the point at which a narrative ends, a “happy ending” is constructed in a way so as to imply that, after the conclusion of the narrative, the lives of all the “good” characters will be filled with happiness and that any unpleasantness they encounter will be negligible.

So is this how you think of the happy endings in books or movies you watch? Do you believe that all the difficulty is behind the characters and nothing bad will ever happen to them again? Is that part of what makes a happy ending for you?

Many fairy tales started in very different forms from the happily-ever-after versions we know today.Β  In the early version of Snow White, the queen is punished for her crimes — to the death.Β  She’s forced to wear red-hot shoes and dance until she falls over dead.Β  Hans Christian Andersen’s original tale of The Little Mermaid has the prince marrying another girl and Ariel throwing herself into the sea, where she disappears into the foam and becomes a permanent part of the ocean.

Psychologists have long debated what fairy tales mean.Β  Bruno Bettelheim, author and child psychiatrist,Β  believed that fairy tales help children learn to navigate reality and survive in a world that is controlled by adults.Β  Since often times the protagonists in fairy tales are often children, the conflicts in family and the morals taughtΒ  could provide examples of how to cope in the world.Β  β€œFairy tales are loved by the child…becauseβ€”despite all the angry, anxious thoughts in his mind to which the fairy tale gives body and specific contextβ€”these stories always result in a happy outcome, which the child cannot imagine on his own.”  Bettelheim faced many criticisms against him, but there is still a connection in his words about fairy tales to books today that provide an emotional experience with a happy outcome.

And there are plenty of stories without a happy ending…Romeo and Juliet always comes to mind first.Β Β  If Shakespeare lived in modern times, would that story become great? Would it ever see the light of day if sent to a publisher — a story where both the hero and heroine kill themselves?Β  Hard to imagine.

Is the popularity of happy endings about a human’s need for closure?Β Β  A good book will take you on an emotional journey — tears, laughter, anger, you will feel along with the characters.Β  At the end of that journey, is there a need to gain an emotional conclusion to that that leaves no room for ambiguity? It’s also no surprise that in tougher times, books with happy endings sell more.Β  It’s a human need for comfort, for a way to escape into something that they know is under control.

So what about you? Do you migrate toward books and movies with a likely outcome of success of happiness?Β  I know I do.

You may also like

6 comments

Silver James April 12, 2010 - 12:54 pm

There is a reason genre fiction is popular, whether it be romance, myster/thriller, western, sci-fi/fantasy. I believe people want the comfort of knowing what they are getting when they pick up a certain book. And isn’t it amazing that as much as romance is denigrated as a genre, it remains the highest grossing in the business? Hrmmmmm. Makes one wonder.

Reading a book with an incomplete, or unsatisfactory ending leaves me frustrated and, in some instances, angry. I feel…cheated. And doubting that I will ever give that author another chance.

Thought-provoking post today, Jeanne!

Reply
Mary April 12, 2010 - 3:17 pm

Hi Jeannie,

I definitely lean towards books with happy endings. The exception would be if I am reading a book that’s been either recommended or reviewed as something really special. In that case I can deal with an “unhappy ending.” I guess for me, the ending needs to be satisfactory more than happy. I watched a movie the other night and it left me really unsettled because the progress of the story indicated a happy ending and then a shocker just blew that all away. The movie was nominated for an Academy Award so I guess people didn’t mind but the ending left me with such an unsettled feeling that it colored my feelings for the rest of the movie.

You asked –
So is this how you think of the happy endings in books or movies you watch? Do you believe that all the difficulty is behind the characters and nothing bad will ever happen to them again? Is that part of what makes a happy ending for you?

My answer – in a romance, no. For me the happy ending in the romance guarantees that they couple have found love and a partner with whom they can face any adversity. Life happens, but it’s easier to cope with when you have someone you love to help you get through.

Reply
Jeannie Ruesch April 12, 2010 - 8:36 pm

@Silver

Commercial fiction gets such a bad rap because of the so-called formula and yet, overall it sells so much better. And romance the top of the list. Makes you wonder if at least half of the people who say they’d “never read one of those books” actually does. πŸ˜‰

And I don’t say so-called formula because I don’t believe it’s there– it is. Just the way the basic formula is in genre fiction, movies, and more. Just going through storyfix.com’s deconstruction of a plot shows that in ample spades.

So what if the structure is elemental? So is the structure on my house…I certainly don’t want the folks who build my house to decide the structure is boring. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. πŸ˜‰

Reply
Jeannie Ruesch April 12, 2010 - 8:39 pm

@Mary

Hi there! Yes, I know what you mean about recommended books or specially mentioned ones. For me, I tend to know upfront what I’m getting into so I can prepare for it. Jodi Picoult wrote a book that I enjoyed, but I hadn’t yet gotten familiar with the fact that she doesn’t tie up loose ends all the time. Haven’t read enough of her books to know how often this happens, because the one book unsettled me. It was an element I hated to see left unfinished. Perhaps the intent of the author IS to leave it stirring in your mind, which I can respect and which she does very well. It’s just not the reason I read fiction.

And one movie with a far less than satisfying ending STILL sticks with me today…I won’t watch it ever again. It disturbed me that much. (Seven.) But along the same lines, I think it did what it intended to.

Reply
June Sengpiehl April 13, 2010 - 6:54 am

I like happy endings. I lean toward stories that tie up the loose ends and provide a satisfactory ending,
one where the characters solve their problems, one that shows that hoping is a good thing. It gives a
positive feel to the story. But the story must feel real to me and the ending has to suit the story that’s being told.

Reply
Laura Marcella April 13, 2010 - 6:20 pm

I like book endings that are true to the entire story. Many people hate the ending to Gone with the Wind, but I loved it because it was real. I think if those were real people, that’s probably how it would’ve happened. Rhett had put up with Scarlett’s drama for far too long! Two romantic comedies come to mind with untraditional endings: The Break-Up and My Best Friend’s Wedding. If the leading lady and gentleman had gotten together in either of those movies, it wouldn’t have stayed true to the plot.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I love happy endings (of course!), but I don’t like them if they’re forced. I want the ending to stay true to the characters and to the story whether it’s happy or bittersweet or sad.

Reply

Leave a Comment

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Please accept to keep reading. Accept

Type Your Keywords: