1) Who is responsible for Georg’s decision at the end of the story?
The theory of someone else being responsible for the decision of Georg at the end of the story is very ambiguous. I believe that Georg’s decision at the end of the story is solely the fault of himself. Since the beginning of the story Georg begins to show evidence of depression and escaping reality: “After enclosing the envelope in playful slowness, he rested on his ebows on the desk and gazed through the window onto the river” and “he said he no longer understood the circumstances at home and he might remain abroad in any case, embittered by advise and more alienated from his friends than ever”. These quotes depict how Georg writes letters to a friend who might not exist, which describes the circumstances he is living himself; he is escaping from reality through a letter to an inexistent friend, which seems more like a personal journal. Therefore, Georg’s decision in the end of the story is a decision he made to permanently escape from the world he no longer wants to be a part of.
2) What is the significance of the very last line of the story: “At this moment, almost endless traffic rolled across the bridge”?
The significance of the very last line of the story represents how society functions nowadays. No one is able to look through each other’s eyes and realizes someone is in pain. No one is going to predict what’s going to happen in the future. Therefore no one is going to know if someone is in need of help unless they speak up, which explains why a lot of advertisements encourages us to speak up about our problems – let ourselves be heard. Since there isn’t anyone there to hear Georg out, he kept everything to himself which led to his death. The traffic really symbolizes the life how even when something happens, we are still moving forward. No one is going to stop for one another because the clock is still ticking for us. The traffic also can mean that the suicide is in interest of the narrator’s only. Since the cars are coming in and out endlessly, there’s too many background noises going around which can lead up to no one really paying attention to the narrator. The significance of the sentence summarizes the whole point of the story – his isolation and loneliness led to his suicide.
Crystal Wong
I agree with Crystal as to how the endless traffic at the end of the story metaphorically relates to the nonchalant and cold society we live in today. I believe it also has to do with Georg’s dialogue prior to him letting go of the railing stating how he has always loved his parents. Regardless of the actual transparency behind that statement, it will never be heard. As one of my group member, Myra, have said, “the ending is fairly unrealistic because it goes hand in hand with the events that had occurred before”. I too, think that a pattern can be found along the storyline that connects how his voice wasn’t being heard from scenario to scenario.
-Chi Z. (Post 2)
I could not agree with you more. Georg’s decision was completely the fault of himself. He let himself get depressed from his father. He was definitely not wrong for being upset, but the ultimate decision to jump off that bridge was entirely his fault. There were many other courses of action he could have taken after hearing his father say “I condemn you to death by drowning!”
3) Many people see this ending as somehow unrealistic. Do you agree? Why or why not? How does it being realistic, not entirely realistic, or both contribute to your understanding of the ending?
Georg’s decision to adhere to his father’s wishes at the end of the story do seem to be realistic, at least in the sense that children listen to their parents. Georg’s desire to seek his father’s counsel in the first place with regards to his friend from Russia’s attendance at the wedding indicate that his father’s advice carried with it a certain weight. Moreover, I feel that the ending being seen as realistic also helps the reader understand the story in greater depth. Personally, my understanding of the story was shaped by the ending, and the impact of his father’s words are validated by Georg’s feeling “…chased out of the room”. Without understanding the importance Georg placed on his father’s words, one might be inclined to believe that this was merely an act of depression or impulse. Insofar as suicide is always somewhat an act of depression or impulse, in this particular instance, the catalyst for the impulse to escape from the world was the merciless chiding of Georg’s father.
-Jonathan Kerstein (Post 1)
I agree with Jonathan because as he pointed out “…children listen to their parents”. It may be arguable that Georg isn’t a child anymore. However, depending how much of an impact his parents had on him as a child is what causes him to do as his father says. Maybe because of how Georg grew up under his father, he thrives for acceptance from him so he does what his father says. In the story we can see Georg trying to get his father’s approval for sending the letter to his friend in Russia and such. So I can see how it was his father’s fault for prompting him to do suicide.
Hi Rosshelle!
I agree with your post! I also think that no one can really be responsible for someone else suicide. I agree when you stated that he already showed some examples of having depression in the beginning of the story. I really liked your point of view when you stated that, “He is escaping from reality through a letter to an inexistent friend, which seems more like a personal journal”. Looking back at the text, I agree that Georg is definitely living in a very dream like state, almost like everything is an illusion in his life and than his father kind of shatters that line between reality and fantasy when he talked about his friend and how he has been writing him and knew he is existing.
-Kelly Kay (post 2)
I completely agree with Crystal. I really loved how you stated, “No one is able to look through each other’s eyes and realizes someone is in pain. No one is going to predict what’s going to happen in the future. Therefore no one is going to know if someone is in need of help unless they speak up”, this truly brings the last sentence of the story into a realization. We can be in the train or on the street brushing shoulders with people and we will never know if someone is hurting inside. Everyone is always in their own world trying to get from point A to B, which is why we read the cars continued to pass by endlessly. This is a really great point you made, it really encouraged me to become more aware.