On a Friday the 13th in October, The End arrived.
It was The End of A Series of Unfortunate Events, though it made no promise that there would be an end to the series of unfortunate events, only that there would arrive The End to A Series of Unfortunate Events. And if that's confusing, you'll want to take a deep breath before entering Lemony Snicket's thirteenth installment of the chronicling of the Baudelaire orphans.
The Baudelaire orphans have finally found a place in which they can be truly safe and live lives uncomplicated by treachery. It is a place that comes with a price, for if they want to possess this safety, they'll have to give up their individuality. Violet will have to sacrifice her inventing, Klaus will no longer be allowed to read, and Sunny while still being allowed to cook must stick with a pre-ordained, bland diet.
After the lives they've lived since The Bad Beginning the choice is not as obvious as it might seem. Here they've finally found people who can see through Count Olaf's lies and who are willing to protect them. Is giving up a few of one's passions really such a horrible thing to ask in exchange for kindness and safety?
In asking this question, Snicket brings to a close this chronicle with what may be the best book yet in the series. Yes, there are some familiar pieces in this book. The orphans are plopped down in a situation against their will and must adapt to a community that is different than all the others they've met so far. The community has its own catch phrase — as have most of the communities they've encountered thus far. This time it is "I won't force you, but..." and "I suggest..." and "Don't rock the boat."
Olaf attempts to disguise himself and worm his way back into control. The orphans face deadly peril that they must escape by using their wits. They also learn more about their past and how it managed to get them to where they are today. The book is also filled with all sorts of puns, literary allusions, and brain-twisting verbal puzzles.
The literary allusions can be amongst the most fun in this book, outweighing the puns and making one question whether this is a book for adults or for children. Villagers in this book include a young girl named Friday, Miranda Caliban, Ariel, Finn, Bligh, and Ms. Marlow. Other names are anagrams. The village's facilitator is named Ishmael and I couldn't help but giggle every time he said, "Call me Ish," which was frequently.
There are also quite a few Biblical allusions, including one that goes to the heart of the theme of forbidden knowledge and making a choice between a safe paradise and a world of complicated knowledge. Nor is it accidental that the Incredible Deadly Viper makes a reappearance and is nicknamed Ink.
In all, The End is a very clever book that deeply explores a theme without turning it into a moral sermon. In many ways, it is a summation of the entire series. Back in The Bad Beginning Snicket suggests that the readers shouldn't read anything dreadful, that they should instead go read something about how ponies are sweet or elves are happy dancers. Now here at the end he puts forth the argument about whether parents are supposed to protect their children from everything unhappy and dreadful or whether they should have faith that their children will be able to untangle those things which are complicated and treacherous and survive their own series of unfortunate events.
Daniel Handler also gently reminds his readers that everyone experiences their own series of unfortunate events and that while there is a tendency to project those experiences onto others, they only very rarely intersect.
The End does neatly wrap up the series even though there are some questions that remain unanswered. After all, when does a story ever really end? Most stories contribute endlessly to the stories of other people, constantly intersecting and going on in ways that one set of protagonists will forever be blind to. We do learn a little bit about the Baudelaire and Snicket history and there are even some surprises concerning Count Olaf. Mostly, though, The End is about whether we live in the world or whether we isolate ourselves from all possible forms of evil.
In that, The End succeeds very well.