To Have The Last Word

The Beginning of the End

"All good things must come to and end" so they say… (252). Edmundson states in his chapter “To Have The Last Word” writers want their final words to be nothing less than perfection. They want them to be something remembered for eternity, something to be quoted for years to come. Famous authors such as Oscar Wilde, Thoreau, Emerson, and James Joyce are immediately brought in to his discussion with some of their very own last words as writers. Towards the end of the chapter Edmundson takes a turn in direction by explaining how their initial “last words” are not actually the end of the writer because the words evolve and spark ideas in other writers, therefore stimulating an ongoing cycle.

Every person can think of concluding words that have impacted their life in some way, shape, or form. Whether it is the satisfying ending of a phenomenal book or movie, the last words of a loved one, or the final words of somebody that were never even able to be spoken. Words have the power to influence anyone at any given time. There is no limit to them. They can gratify completely, or disappoint entirely. Words have power. “They contain the ability to influence, to entertain, and to inform. Words encompass emotions. They can heal and they can hurt. They bring inspiration and thought. Words do not come straight from the mouth. They come from the mind. We speak them. We hear them. We read them. We write them. We live and breathe them. At some point in every person’s life, words have made a difference” (Brazzle 1). Words are used for closure in any instance. They also introduce beginnings. But what makes the biggest impression? What is the most important part?

           

            “…And they lived happily ever after. The End” is a typical well-known phrase used to end many stories, usually fairy tales. When seeing or hearing these words it is automatically known that a fictional fairytale story has just taken place. This phrase can also be seen or heard at the end of movies. The words “Amen” are of similar sort. These words trigger the end of a prayer. At this point everyone in a church would automatically know the prayer is over and they can lift their head and open their eyes. These are each triggered last words or phrases. When they are spoken the audience automatically knows it is going to be the last word. However, there are other last words that do not necessarily end moments or scenarios but more so foreshadow a future. An epilogue is “a section or speech at the end of a book or play that serves as a comment on or conclusion to what has happened” (OED. 1). One example of a famous epilogue is at the end of the Harry Potter book series written by J.K. Rowling. The epilogue takes place 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts and Voldemort’s defeat. Harry, Ron, and Hermione arrive at Platform 9 ¾ with their families to drop their kids off at the Hogwarts Express. The year would be 2017. But what is the point in writing an epilogue, rather than just continuing the story with more books? “Without a proper purpose for including one, an epilogue might come across as anti-climatic deadweight, inadvertently signaling to your reader that you’re afraid your ending is so weak that it won’t be able extrapolate meaning from it without help” (Carpenter 1). Well, I guess J.K. Rowling was already 7 novels deep and probably ready to be finished with her story. However, when asked about the epilogue of the book after many complaints about how the story ends she explains that she was vague on purpose, “it was her desire for it to be "nebulous," something "poetic," and that she wanted the readers to feel as if they were looking at Platform 9 3/4 through the mist, unable to make out exactly who was there and who was not” (Harry Potter np). Rowling explained that her epilogue was originally a lot more detailed but “it didn’t work out well as a piece of writing. In a novel you must resist the urge to tell everything” (Harry Potter np). Through J.K. Rowling is it learned that having the last words as a writer through epilogues can be a mind stimulating game for the writer to the audience.

             

“Dying words are a very special form of quotation. Some are rehearsed and contrived; others are spontaneous and witty. Whatever the motivation or preparedness, 'famous last words' may be in the form of epitaphs, letters or even suicide notes, but are often impromptu sayings coined by and spoken by the dying person for the first (and, of course, last) time on their deathbed”(Famous Literary and Historical Epitaphs np). Epitaphs on cemetery monuments are communal in honoring loved ones who have passed away. The words on epitaphs are oftentimes not written by those whom they are honoring, but by a family member, famous person, or author. They tend to be words that reflect on the deceased persons life, maybe words they would have said had they been able to actually have last words. It could also be a message from the family to those who are still living reminding them to cherish their own life or let others know how much this late individual is loved. There are the distinctive phrases written on tombstones such as “Rest in Peace” “Gone but not forgotten” and “In remembrance of.” If you take a walk around any cemetery you will probably come across these phrases. Though others will include more personal life reflecting messages. William Shakespeare’s epitaph on his gravestone at Holy Trinity Church reads: “GOOD FREND FOR IESVS SAKE FORBEARE, TO DIGG THE DVST ENCLOASED HEARE, BLESTE BE Ye MAN Yt SPARES THES STONES, AND CVRST BE HE Yt MOVES MY BONES," many believe the inscription was penned by Shakespeare himself (Famous Literary and Historical Epitaphs np). Dr. Martin Luther King Juniors’ epitaph vividly reflects on the impact he made on the world with the words “Free at Last, Free at Last Thank God Almighty I'm Free at Last” (Famous Literary and Historical Epitaphs np). Some epitaphs can even be rather humorous. Dorothy Parkers stone says nothing more than the words “Excuse my dust” (Famous Literary and Historical Epitaphs np). She is also said to have chosen this herself as a reflection of her witty yet serious personality. Epitaphs are a way that writers or any person is able to end with last words that reflect on their life and who they are.

           

            Right now go ahead and think about your first interactions with the people in your life. Do these first impressions still shape your perception of these people today? Many of them probably do, because your first and last impression of a person really influences how you view and think about that particular individual. The same is also true for writing. “Your introduction and conclusion are your tools for capturing the audience's attention and leaving them with a lasting impression” (Jackson np). Introductions and conclusions are the two most difficult parts of inscription for writers. Yet, they are the most crucial. Starting a young age everyone is taught the standard five paragraph essay format. We are taught that there must be an introduction, at least three body paragraphs explaining our points, and then a conclusion. The introduction must grab the reader’s attention. The body must keep their attention, and the conclusion should wrap everything up and leave the audience with a sense of satisfaction. These are the rules for almost any piece of writing (plus or minus the length of the body of course). Essays, articles, novels, short stories, and journals generally all have some form of similar structure. But what is the most important to the reader? The beginning or the end?  

Writers have the power to start and end however they desire. From the beginning their words matter just as much as the end. Introductions and first words grab the attention of people and keep them longing for more. For example, the first book in a series is going to be the reason you continue on to the next one and finish the series. In an essay, the writer is responsible for having a killer introduction that hooks the audience right off the bat and makes them want to read the rest. Conclusions are a little bit different but are equally as important when it comes to satisfaction of the reader. Finishing the last paragraph of a book and giving the reader a sense of gratification is very well reflected on the writer. Last words can come in many different forms and tend to be the most important to a writer because it is the way they are remembered. Ultimately, “What is a book but a record of the spirit over a period of time in the writer’s life” (Edmundson 256)? Write to make a difference. Write to be remembered. Write to give a new perspective.

Work Cited

Carpenter, Courtney. “Writing Fiction: Six Ways to Use an Epilogue.” WritersDigest.com, 24 Aug. 2012, www.writersdigest.com/tip-of-the-day/six-reasons-for-using-an-epilogue. Accessed 25 Apr. 2017.

EDMUNDSON, MARK. WHY WRITE?: a Master Class on the Art of Writing and Why It Matters. S.l., BLOOMSBURY, 2017.

“Epilogue” Def. 1. Oxford English Dictionary Online. Web. 1 April 2017.

Famous Literary and Historical Epitaphs. web.cn.edu/kwheeler/epitaphs.html. Accessed 25 Apr. 2017.

“Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling Goes Beyond the Epilogue.” Beyond Hogwarts, www.beyondhogwarts.com/harry-potter/articles/jk-rowling-goes-beyond-the-epilogue.html. Accessed 25 Apr. 2017.

Jackson, Cathryn. “The Importance of Introductions and Conclusions.” Study.com, Study.com, study.com/academy/lesson/introductions-and-conclusions.html. Accessed 25 Apr. 2017.