Happy Endings: Sinful Pleasure Or Morally Gray?

The concept of a happy ending is subjective and varies across different cultures and time periods. In fiction, a happy ending typically refers to a positive outcome for the protagonist, often involving their survival or the fulfilment of their quest. However, the presence of a happy ending does not necessarily mean that everything concludes without a hitch, and millions of innocent background characters can die as long as the main characters are alright.

The Bible, for example, contains stories with both happy and unhappy endings. While some characters, like Job, end up old and full of days, others, like Uriah, King Josiah, and John the Baptist, meet tragic ends. This reflects the reality that life is full of stories that don't always have happy endings, and even those who are faithful and virtuous don't always get their happy ending.

The idea of whether a happy ending is a sin or not is a complex one and depends on various factors, including one's religious beliefs and personal interpretation of texts.

Happy endings are not owed to us

Life is full of stories that don't have happy endings. We all desire happy endings to our suffering, but God does not owe us a happy ending, nor does He owe us the answers. We may come to believe that God only extends His goodness and grace in situations that end happily. We may believe that a happy ending is what proves God's presence. We may believe that experiences that do not have a happy ending mean that God is somehow removed from it.

The Bible is full of unhappy endings or unexplained endings. There are Psalms of pain and bewilderment. There is grief in the Bible, too. God saw fit to capture many stories that end without a word of explanation. And these, too, matter to Him. These, too, are important and are full of meaning and significance.

In certain periods, the endings of traditional tragedies such as Macbeth or Oedipus Rex, in which most of the major characters end up dead, disfigured, or discountenanced, have been actively disliked. In the seventeenth century, the Irish author Nahum Tate sought to improve William Shakespeare's King Lear by modifying the ending so that Lear survives and Cordelia marries Edgar. Tate's version dominated performances for a century and a half, and Shakespeare's original was nearly forgotten. Most subsequent critics have not found Tate's amendments an improvement and welcomed the restoration of Shakespeare's original.

Happy endings only require that the main characters are alright. Millions of innocent background characters can die, but as long as the characters that the reader/viewer/audience cares about survive, it can still be a happy ending.

There is no universally accepted definition of a happy ending; such definitions can considerably vary with time and cultural differences.

Jesus still loves to extend grace. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Why would He lay down His life for you, for me, and for all humanity? In one word: love. Perfect, unconditional, doesn’t-matter-who-you-are-or-where-you’ve-been-or-what-you’ve-done love.

God made a way, through Jesus, for our wounded hearts to be restored so that everyone could experience deep peace, love, forgiveness, and hope.

Welcome to your happy-ending story. It’s available to each of us who turn our hearts to Him.

Happy endings are not guaranteed

In life, we may strive for a happy ending, but it is not always possible to achieve one. There are many factors that can prevent a happy ending, such as sin, disease, natural disasters, and human choices. Even those who are faithful, honorable, and virtuous may not achieve a happy ending. The Bible, which is full of stories that don't have happy endings, serves as a reminder that life itself is full of stories that don't turn out the way we want.

In fiction, a happy ending is typically defined as a conclusion in which the protagonist(s) survive and successfully complete their quest or mission, and this is considered a favourable outcome. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes, the protagonist may survive, but millions of innocent background characters die. In other cases, the protagonist may not get what they desire, or their happy ending may be short-lived, leading to further challenges or unhappiness.

The concept of a happy ending is subjective and can vary across time and cultures. What one person considers a happy ending may not be the same for another. Additionally, what was considered a happy ending in the past may not be seen as such in the present due to changing social norms and values.

While we may desire happy endings, both in our lives and in the stories we consume, they are not always guaranteed. Sometimes, stories and life itself can have unhappy or bittersweet endings. It's important to remember that a happy ending is not the only measure of a story's or life's worth, and that we can find meaning and significance in the journey and the lessons learned along the way.

Happy endings are not always possible

The Bible is full of stories that don't have happy endings. For example, the stories of Uriah, King Josiah, John the Baptist, and Stephen. Uriah died because King David coveted his wife and committed adultery. King Josiah died as a consequence of his disobedience. John the Baptist was beheaded. Stephen was stoned to death.

Even in fiction, happy endings are not always possible. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, most of the major characters end up dead, disfigured, or discountenanced. In George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, the totalitarian state breaks the protagonists Winston and Julia, driving out their "criminal thoughts" and forcing them to betray each other and destroy their love for each other.

However, the concept of a happy ending is subjective and can vary with time and cultural differences. What may be considered a happy ending in one time or culture may not be seen as such in another. Ultimately, whether or not a story has a happy ending depends on the perspective of the reader or viewer.

Happy endings are not always desired

The Bible is full of stories that do not have happy endings. For example, the Bible Study Discussion on the book of Job notes that the story ends well for Job, but this is not the case for many other characters, such as Uriah, King Josiah, John the Baptist, and Stephen. The Bible is also full of Psalms of pain and bewilderment, reflecting the grief and suffering in life.

In life, many people do not come through their trials triumphantly. They may be martyred for a good cause, die from a horrible disease, or have a life reduced to pain and misery. This is reflected in the comments on Gwen Smith's blog post about happy endings. One commenter writes about their experience of depression, another about their experience of cancer, and another about their divorce due to abuse.

Happy endings are also not always desired in art and entertainment. In certain periods, the endings of traditional tragedies such as Macbeth, Oedipus Rex, and King Lear, in which most of the major characters end up dead, disfigured, or discountenanced, have been actively disliked. However, happy endings have been added to some tragic works. For example, in Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale *The Little Mermaid*, the protagonist mermaid makes a noble sacrifice and resigns herself to seeing her beloved prince marry another woman. In the 1989 Disney adaptation, however, the mermaid gets to happily marry her prince.

Happy endings are not always happy

In life, happy endings are not guaranteed. While some people may find happiness in their circumstances, it is not always the case that things will work out well, as in the case of Job in the Bible. Many people do not come through their trials triumphantly. They may be martyred for a good cause, die from a horrible disease, or have a life filled with pain and misery.

In fiction, a happy ending is a type of plot conclusion where there is a positive outcome for the protagonist or protagonists. However, this does not mean that everyone else in the story is happy or that there are no negative consequences. In Steven Spielberg's "War of the Worlds," the happy ending consists of the protagonists surviving the alien invasion and the father regaining the respect of his estranged children. However, millions of innocent background characters can die as long as the main characters are okay.

Additionally, what constitutes a happy ending can vary across cultures and time periods. For example, in the sixteenth century, a happy ending might have involved a woman becoming totally submissive to her husband. Today, this would not be considered a happy ending due to changing societal norms and the advancement of women's rights.

Furthermore, some stories that are considered to have happy endings, such as fairy tales, may not always lead to lasting happiness. The standard fairy tale ending phrase is "happily ever after," but this does not account for the potential challenges and obstacles that the characters may face in the future.

Even in the Bible, there are stories that do not have happy endings. For instance, the Bible mentions characters like Uriah, King Josiah, John the Baptist, and Stephen, whose lives did not end happily.

Therefore, while we may wish for happy endings, it is important to recognize that they are not always attainable or desirable. Sometimes, the journey and the lessons learned along the way are more important than the perfect conclusion.

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