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Sense of an Ending 

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What is the meaning of phrase ‘Blood Money’ in Veronica’s reply email?

This is a phrase ‘Blood Money’ used by Veronica in email.  When Sarah Ford, mother of Veronica died, at that time she gave 500 pounds to Tony. It was the big question that why she gave these much money to him. Several possible interpretations can be possible. May be Sarah was happy by the relationship with Adrian. This was made possible only because of Tony. He wrote in the letter that meets her mother for background of Veronica. At some level tony is responsible for Adrian’s death and therefore Veronica used the phrase ‘Blood Money’.


 How do you decipher the equation: b = s – v x/+ a1 or a2 + v + a1 X s = b?

b= s-v x/+a1 :  This equation proclaims that Baby means young Adrian is the son of Adrian and Sarah ford without any kind of involvement of Veronica and Tony. This is a very simple interpretation.

a2 + v + a1 X s = b? : This is complex elucidation that requires logic to understand. It means that young Adrian is the son came into existence because of some crucial deeds of Veronica and tony. Tony advised Adrian to meet Veronica’s mother so he falls in love with Sarah and they have a baby.


 Adrian’s diary is willed to Tony by Sarah Ford. Why did Sarah Ford own it? Why was it in the possession of Veronica?

Adrian and Sarah Ford were in the relationship. So, certainly Sarah must have his diary. It was willed to toy by Sarah because she believed that it’s just because Tony that she could get Adrian’s love. Sarah might be fed by her relationship with her husband. Therefore she was in search of new relationship. After Sarah diary was in the possession of Veronica because she is her daughter. Thus, everything is inherited by her.


 Was the mentally retarded middle aged ‘Adrian’, Tony’s friend who did not commit suicide and was suffering from trauma and thus gone mad, and was living with hidden identity?

This interpretation can also be possible. Mental retarded middle aged Adrian is may be the real Adrian who did not commit suicide but living with hidden identity. He has to hide his identity because he made love relationship with his girlfriend’s mother. In addition to that Sarah was older than Adrian. As a result may he is mentally disturbed fellow. He is the scholar person and may be believe in ‘Existentialism’ that the real bravery is not in committing suicide but is in the fight with given circumstances.

  How was Veronica related to Adrian, the one suffering in care-in-the-community?

At the end of the novel we discover completely paradoxical character of Veronica from Tony’s description in first part of the novel. She is the one who victimized by Adrian’s deeds. She was in the relationship with Adrian after her breakup with Tony. But he falls in love with her mother. As a result her mother bears child of Adrian who is mentally retarded. Now he is the brother of Veronica. Thus with the sense of responsibility Veronica is taking care of Adrian after death of Adrian and Sarah.

 Do you see any missing block – some dot which is not getting connected with the whole or dot missing to get full sense of the novel - in the plot of this psychological thriller?

Yes, there are several missing blocks which make the end very ambiguous. Therefore many critics and writers have written blogs on this novel. First of all it is very unclear that why Tony blames himself for Adrian’s death because as such he was not responsible for that directly. Another ambiguous part is the mystery about mentally retarded Adrian. It may possible that he is the real Adrian who lives with hidden identity. But it is unclear which makes this novel very complex.

 Do you see any possible reason in the suicide of Adrian Finn?

“Existentialism” is the term related with human existence. Adrian was the bright student among numbers of students.  He was the master of philosophy and logic. Often he debates with his master of history on various topics. The theory of existentialism might work on Adrian and perhaps he decided to return unwanted gift that is ‘life’.

Another possible reason is that he might be ashamed of his relationship with Sarah Ford who was older than him and also the mother of his girlfriend.

He was brave enough to face death. He believed that life is the constant struggle between ‘Eros’ and ‘Thenetos’ . That is love and death. If Eros wins over thenetos then person may survive and can live longer period of time. But in his case Thenetos wins over Eros and Adrian died. Or we can say that he was courageous who face death very strongly.

In the light of new revelations, how do you read character of Veronica? Instinctive, manipulative, calculating, stubborn, haughty, sacrificial, trustworthy, good Samaritan?

According to my view point Veronica is Instinctive, sacrificial, trustworthy and good Samaritan. In the case of Tony she is completely devoted to her relationship. But it was Tony who did not want to expand their relationship. When she made relation with Adrian at that time also she was cheated by him. But even after that she takes care of his son Adrian. So we can conclude that essence of her character is truly good.

 What do you mean by Unreliable Narrator? Is Tony Webster classifiable as Unreliable Narrator?

Unreliable narrator means the person who presents ‘subjective truth’ in front of audience. This leads towards ‘Post-truth’. The present era, this is full of subjective interpretation. People create their own morality and memory. We will remember the things by keeping ourselves in the center.  Therefore we will remember the thing the way we want to. It may not be truth according to another person. By restoring ourselves in particular way we want to justify our deeds. As history is the self delusion of defeated in the same way memory is self centered.

Tony Webster is the unreliable narrator as he himself confesses that some of the incident he does not remember properly. He convinced audience that history is the documentation, neither of winner nor of defeated rather it is the description of lay man so how one can rely on that past. Last part and his own words in the novel prove him unreliable. As he revels the secret of Adrian, Sarah and Veronica. Thus we can say that Tony is an unreliable narrator.       

Here i would like to express my learning experience of novel. This novel was well explained by Dr. Dilip Barad with the help of original text that i did not require any source to build my arguments.