"Happy Endings"

The short story “Happy Endings” is by Margaret Atwood. This story is very different from other stories. It allows the reader to choose their own ending of the story. The first part of the story begins,

 “John and Mary meet.

What happens next?

If you want a happy ending, try A.”

-          Atwood

The story continues with endings of the stories A through F. Story A appears to be the perfect happy ending. However, Atwood writes it very broad with no deep details to describe the events. In stories B through F, the different scenarios change drastically for the worse. For example, in story A, John and Mary get married, have children, grow old and die. It is very simple and lacks detail. In story B however, John and Mary get married but John doesn’t love her. Mary finds out John is cheating on her with Madge. Mary takes a lot of sleeping pills with a bottle of sherry and leaves a note for john in hope that he can reach her in time to drive her to the hospital. John never response and Mary dies. John marries Madge and the story continues as in A. Story B has more details and was specific. The plots in every story changes but the endings are always the same. Yet because of the details, the story seems to have worsened and the ‘Happy Ending’ was somewhat deceptive. Then again the title, “Happy Endings” is misleading. It contradicts the whole story which I think what Atwood was trying to accomplish. The stories are harsh and gloomy but it does show reality very well. These scenarios can happen in real life and it shows the reader Atwood’s perspective of what a ‘Happy Ending” really is.