Ending of The Silence of the Girls Explained

What Happens at the End

The novel concludes with Briseis’s departure from Troy. She leaves with the other captive women. This follows the city’s fall to the Achaeans. Achilles has already died by this point. His death significantly alters Briseis’s situation. She is no longer his possession.

Briseis observes the burning city. She reflects on her experiences. Her journey ends not with liberation. Rather, it ends with continued uncertainty. The women face new captors and new lives. Their agency remains severely limited.

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Symbolic Meaning of the Ending

The Unending Cycle of Violence

The ending symbolises the perpetual cycle of war. It shows the ongoing suffering of women. Troy falls, but the violence continues. Briseis’s new enslavement reinforces this. Her future mirrors her past.

The burning city represents destruction. It is also a metaphor for the women’s lost identities. Their homes and histories are consumed. They are forced to adapt or perish.

The Persistence of Female Resilience

Despite their plight, the women endure. Briseis’s survival is a testament to this. Her voice, though often silenced, ultimately emerges. Barker gives her narrative power.

The collective journey of the women highlights solidarity. They find strength in shared experience. This resilience is a quiet defiance. It challenges patriarchal structures.

How the Ending Resolves or Fails to Resolve Central Conflicts

Resolution of the Trojan War

The primary conflict, the Trojan War, is resolved. Troy is defeated. The Achaean victory is complete. This brings a definitive end to the military struggle.

Achilles’s personal conflicts are also resolved. His death brings a tragic conclusion. His rage and destiny are fulfilled. His story arc reaches its end.

Unresolved Conflicts for Women

The ending fails to resolve the women’s subjugation. Their status as spoils of war persists. Briseis and the others remain captives. Their fates are still determined by men.

The conflict between male dominance and female agency remains. Barker highlights the ongoing struggle. The women’s silence is broken, but their freedom is not achieved.

The Ending’s Contribution to the Text’s General Vision and Viewpoint

The general vision and viewpoint is decidedly bleak. It underscores the brutality of war. The ending reinforces this pessimistic outlook. It shows the enduring cost of conflict.

Barker critiques the traditional heroic narrative. She exposes its patriarchal bias. The suffering of women is central. This shapes the novel’s critical perspective.

The ending offers a nuanced view of power. It demonstrates its transient nature. Even victors face consequences. However, the most vulnerable suffer most consistently.

Ambiguities or Interpretive Questions

Briseis’s Future

The ending leaves Briseis’s future open. Her destination is unknown. Her fate with her new captors is uncertain. This ambiguity invites reader speculation.

One might question her potential for agency. Will she ever truly be free? The novel suggests ongoing struggle. Complete liberation seems distant.

The Nature of Victory

The Achaean victory feels hollow. The cost is immense. Many heroes are dead. This raises questions about the true meaning of triumph.

Is any victory truly glorious? Barker implies a resounding “no”. The human toll negates any glory. This is a key interpretive point.

Connecting the Ending to Overarching Themes

The Theme of Voice and Silence

The ending powerfully connects to voice and silence. Briseis finds her voice narrating the story. Yet, her physical situation remains silenced. She is still a possession.

This highlights the complexity of regaining agency. Speaking out is a first step. True freedom requires more. The women’s collective silence is finally broken.

The Theme of War’s Impact on Women

The ending is a stark reminder. War disproportionately affects women. They are objectified and brutalised. Their experiences are often overlooked.

Barker ensures their suffering is visible. The novel concludes with their ongoing plight. This reinforces the central theme. It champions a feminist reading of history.

How to Write About This Ending in the Exam

Focus on Specific Details

Refer to Briseis’s departure from Troy. Mention the burning city. Discuss her reflections on her situation. These details provide textual evidence.

Emphasise the collective journey of the women. Their shared experience is crucial. It underscores their continued lack of agency.

Analyse Symbolic Significance

Explain the symbolism of the unending cycle. Discuss the critique of traditional heroism. Connect these to Barker’s general vision and viewpoint.

Consider the contrast between narrative voice and physical freedom. This highlights complex thematic concerns. Use terms like “patriarchal structures”.

Discuss Resolution and Ambiguity

Distinguish between the resolution of the war. Highlight the unresolved issues for women. Address the open-ended nature of Briseis’s future.

Explore the questions the ending raises. For example, the true cost of victory. This demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the text.

Related Pages

• The Silence of the Girls Study Guide
• The Silence of the Girls Summary
• Themes in The Silence of the Girls
• Key Moments in The Silence of the Girls
• Key Quotes in The Silence of the Girls