Epilogues: Pro or Con?

Well, we know where pretty much everyone stands re: the HPVII epilogue, though it does seem that people dislike it for different reasons.

I didn't like it because of what it didn't tell me.  This guy didn't like it because:

Nothing is sillier or more gratuitous than a glimpse into the future of people who never existed in the first place.

I guess I don't really feel all that strongly about epilogues.  Some, like the epilogue at the end of The Sandlot, I like.  Some, like the one that some idiot added to the Hallmark Hall of Fame production of The Secret Garden, I despise.  (Whaddaya mean, Mary married Colin?  And DICKON DIED?  WORST.  ENDING.  EVER.)

Speaking of The Sandlot, Monday morning seems to be an appropriate time for this:

Comments

[Brian F.]

"Nothing is sillier or more gratuitous than a glimpse into the future of people who never existed in the first place."

I'm sorry but that has to be the most asinine thing I've ever heard. You might as well say it's silly to become emotionally invested in fictional characters. Or why bother reading fiction in the first place because none of it happened?

I still can't believe an editor wasn't able to talk her out of that epilogue. Of course, I'm of the opinion that they haven't edited her since AZKABAN. At some point, they just said, "Write what you want and we'll slap it between two covers."

[Leila]

I totally agree about the statement. (Obviously, I hope.) And I just don't understand why he'd get so riled about epilogues in general. Is there nothing else to write about?

I also agree about the editing. As much as I enjoyed the later books (with the exception of VI), I do think a little editing would have improved them. (Same goes for Stephen King. Guess what? The shorter version of The Stand? Way better.)

[Brian F.]

You have redeemed yourself in my eyes by disliking Half Blood Prince. I HATED HBP. Right now, somewhere in Hollywood, there's a screenwriter beating himself over the head with a copy of this book moaning, "...but there's no plot..."

[Lacy]

In my opinion, the epilogue was the biggest nod JKR has made in the last three or four books to the fact that this series is supposed to be for children. In my experience, kids ALWAYS want to know what happened, especially tweens who were rooting for Ron and Hermione to get together or whatever.

Personally, I don't know that I could have resisted writing an epilogue, so it doesn't surprise me that she chose too, especially as adamant as JKR has been about not wanting another entity to take up her story and write sequels some time in the future. She said on Dateline last night that she wanted to tie it up so that it was clear that Voldemort was not going to rise again, that Harry's job is done.

It was a little corny, but I have to admit I had some squeeful moments. ;)

[Anna]

I'm not a huge fan of epilogues because they do usually seem tacked on... but in the case of HP, it sort of nixes any sequels. Because everything is fine and has been for years and Harry is now nearly middle aged so no more adventures for him.

What I REALLY hate is when there's two or three pages of thank yous (and in jokes) at the start of a book. I always feel like I have to read them (because I like to start right at the beginning. No skipping ahead for me!) and then I get really pissed off at the author.

[Kelly Fineman]

I am in the minority. I liked the epilogue, professionally and personally.

From an authorial p.o.v., it's there to signal that all was well, there were no more major bouts with the dark powers, Voldemort didn't pull a Vader (spin off into space only to return later), etc. Plus, I hear that the movie rights may have broader rights to the characters, and aren't restricted to the books. So Jo was making sure that they didn't make a shipper film where Hermione and Harry end up together, or something similar.

From a personal p.o.v., I liked seeing that life actually was good for these kids (now adults) after all those years of things being mucked up. It didn't tell me all the things I might have wanted to know, but I knew they'd all ended up basically okay. And, from a nervous reader's perspective, if one read the epilogue first, it was clear who among the primary cast lived, and therefore reassuring, without tipping the complete plot, although it did make Snape's nature clear.

And my husband also couldn't believe I'd cry over fictional characters (I sobbed over a house-elf, for God's sake!) And when I was done reading, and just sitting there staring in contemplation, he felt the need to remind me it was fiction. I felt the urge to hit him with a frying pan, but resisted it. Lucky man.

[Leila]

My dad tried the But-It's-Not-Real line on me when I was about eleven, sobbing my brains out about The Outsiders. Didn't work.

He still tries it occasionally, but usually only in a half-hearted way.

[cc]

Thank you Brian F. My jaw about fell off when I read that.

I liked the epilogue too, all but not finding out what happened to Luna.

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