We all agree that the book had a very abrupt ending. It seemed like there should be more to the story. However, as I was thinking about it more, I think that the ending fits the story. The story itself is the entirety of this competetion. As soon as Ray is the last one standing, the Walk is over, and therefore, the story is over.
Of course, the inner me is always looking for some closure, and a happy ending where Ray gives the prize to his family or he becomes a famous person in their society... but I also kind of like the idea of just leaving the ending at the finish line.
Stephen King leaves the ending for interpretation.
The way I saw it was that Garraty had become consumed by the Walk that by the time he won it, he couldn't stop. The rules had become his reality.
In the last chapter i t says, "Stebbins was dead. But Ray lost interest. He just kept walking."
It was interesting to me that he kept on walking even though he has clearly won the Walk. And then as he kept walking he said, "There was a jeep roaring up ahead. No vehicals on the road you damn fool. That's a capital offense, they can shoot you for that." I found this so weird. The Walk brainwashed him. Did you guys notice this? What are your thoughts?
I get what you're saying. Even though I didn't like the ending, it worked for the book. The author was careful to never tell us too much. For example, we never learned about the society outside of the Long Walk, and we still don't know why these people are okay with the Long Walk happening. I think in the same way, he didn't want to tell us fully what happened in the ending. Even though the ending was frustrating, I think it would have too predicable if he gave the happy ending we were all looking for.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it said he was hallucinating at the end so that's why I think he was so confused. He seemed to be unaware that he had won, because If he'd known he would have stopped walking and he wouldn't have questioned why there was a jeep in the road.