Ending

[Ryan]

Ok, so I gave this book three stars, but I had planned on giving it four until the very end. Spoiler alert if you've not read it yet, because I want to talk about the ending. I didn't think that the thing with Bob would work out in the end, but I didn't think that would mean that Jim would MURDER him. I was sort of hoping that after the deal with Bob fell through, Jim would learn to be independent or move on or literally anything else. Was anybody else shocked or disappointed in that development?

[Kevin]

If you read it again, you'll see Jim was not exactly stable. Not because he was gay, but because all he cared about was his emotions and this ideal that had no place in the read world. When he finally saw the light, his passion turned to rage.

[Sam]

In a version I have he rapes Bob rather than murdering him and then leaves.

[Kevin]

Yeah, that was the '65 edition, I think. I once read an interview with Vidal, saying the original murder ending wasn't what he wanted, but there was pressure in those days to "punish" homosexual feelings. Later, when he have the leverage to publish as he pleased, he changed the ending to that of rape. Either way, the rage over the loss of illusion is what's driving Jim. He kept looking back, and turned into a pillar of salt.

[Ryan]

Looking back, I completely see what you mean. I guess I just went into the book expecting something else; I will have to read it again to see what other details I pick up on.

I never knew that there was another ending. That sounds like it would be interesting to read, too.

[Morris]

I wonder what would have happened if Bob, after awakening in the bed and discovering Jim handling his sex organ, hadn't lost his temper and punched him. Would Jim have apologized, said he was drunk, and both men gone back to sleep ? Would Jim have talked about his feelings and desires ? If so, what would Bob's reaction have been ? Would Jim have been offended at Bob's rejection, left the hotel room, and gone their separate ways ? Would the two men have resumed a platonic friendship ? Would Bob, having thought about it, be open to actually having an intimate relationship with Jim ? Would Jim, angered by Bob's rejection, have gone into a rage and raped him anyway ? Who knows how things would have turned out.

There was no indication previously in the book that either man was prone to losing his temper. Both men seemed to be reasonably good-humored and hadn't ever previously resorted to violence. Yet Jim was passionately obsessed throughout his young adult life with having a loving relationship with Bob. It would have been hard for him to accept the ending of that dream. Bob wasn't himself homophobic, as he'd had homosexual shipmates and wasn't offended by them, as long as it didn't involve himself. He seemed to have a ' to each his own' attitude about it. He'd enjoyed their youthful sexual encounter at the river cabin. But he and Jim were mature now. Bob was married, and took his family obligations seriously. It must have been quite a shock for him to wake up in bed to find his friend handling his sex-organ, but was his reaction a bit over-the-top ?

Vidal probably felt compelled to provide a dramatic conclusion for his novel. It certainly was an emotional conclusion. A blander, more mundane conclusion likely wouldn't have satisfied publishers.

Rejected love can turn into resentment, maybe even hate. There's a potential for violence, but violence most certainly isn't a conventional outcome. It can also turn into simple disappointment. Or it can lead to greater understanding and appreciation. Who knows ?