Her friends tell her John is a rat, a pig, a dog, he isn’t good enough for her, but she can’t believe it.
Crying is bad for your face, everyone knows that and so does Mary but she can’t stop. He doesn’t take off Mary’s clothes, she takes them off herself, she acts as if she’s dying for it every time, not because she likes sex exactly, she doesn’t, but she wants John to think she does because if they do it often enough surely he’ll get used to her, he’ll come to depend on her and they will get married, but John goes out the door with hardly so much as a good-night and three days later he turns up at six o’clock and they do the whole thing over again. He comes to her apartment twice a week and she cooks him dinner, you’ll notice that he doen’t even consider her worth the price of a dinner out, and after he’s eaten the dinner he fucks her and after that he falls asleep, while she does the dishes so he won’t think she’s untidy, having all those dirty dishes lying around, and puts on fresh lipstick so she’ll look good when he wakes up, but when he wakes up he doesn’t even notice, he puts on his socks and his shorts and his pants and his shirt and his tie and his shoes, the reverse order from the one in which he took them off. He merely uses her body for selfish pleasure and ego gratification of a tepid kind. Mary falls in love with John but John doesn’t fall in love with Mary. They both have hobbies which they find stimulating and challenging. John and Mary have a stimulating and challenging sex life and worthwhile friends. Eventually, they can afford live-in help, they have two children, to whom they are devoted. They both have worthwhile and remunerative jobs which they find stimulating and challenging. “Happy Endings” is a metafictional exploration of storytelling, relationships, and the elusive nature of happiness, encouraging readers to question their expectations and assumptions about narratives and life itself.John and Mary fall in love and get married. Through these different versions, Atwood challenges traditional narrative structures and questions the notion of a “happy ending.” She highlights the complexities and uncertainties of human relationships, forcing the reader to confront the realities of love and the various paths it can take. Atwood emphasizes the predictability and artificiality of love stories, suggesting that they are ultimately just fantasies created by the reader. This version suggests that sometimes relationships don’t work out, and people have to find their own paths to happiness.įinally, version F strips away the character development and narrative, focusing on the hypothetical nature of storytelling itself. In version E, John and Mary don’t end up together, exploring the possibility of missed connections and unrequited love. This version underscores the idea that not all love stories have happy endings and that relationships can sour over time. Version D is a tragic tale where John and Mary’s relationship deteriorates, leading to despair and unhappiness. This version explores the idea that struggles can bring people closer together and that happiness can be found amidst adversity. In version C, John and Mary face hardships and challenges but still manage to find some joy in their relationship. This version focuses on the complexities and complications of love, highlighting the idea that happiness may not always be achievable. Version B takes a darker turn, as John leaves Mary for another woman named Madge. They have a fulfilling relationship, a comfortable life, and eventually die peacefully. In version A, John and Mary find happiness and contentment in a conventional and predictable love story.
The outcomes vary, but the central themes remain consistent throughout. Atwood presents different scenarios with each section, labeled A to F, representing different paths the story could take. The story begins by introducing John and Mary, two characters in a simple love story. Rather than presenting a linear narrative, Atwood breaks down the story into various possible outcomes, revealing the underlying themes and motivations behind the characters’ actions. “Happy Endings” is a short story written by Margaret Atwood that explores different versions and perspectives of a generic love story.
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