Fleur will be happy

Our discussion about Four Souls during class yesterday was interesting because we talked a lot about whether or not it was a happy ending for Fleur. Besides the fact that she got her land back and ended up with a son that she really loved, one reason that I want to stick with yes is because I feel like even though she was not completely happy in the end of the book, I feel like she is still alive to change her fate.

Which brings me to the distinction between victim and survivor. One distinction that I didn't hear during class, but I guess that it is pretty obvious, is that a survivor is always physically and emotionally able to continue and not be defeated. I think it depends on the ability to move on from an event. This is why I feel like it is a happy ending for Fleur somewhat because she is still alive and she has the ability to start over if she chooses to, which she kind of did. She got a new name and she listened to Margaret's "healing" ritual.

Not only that, but I also feel like Fleur is a pretty determined character. She was determined to get her land back, which she ended up doing. The land opens up opportunities for her to be happy. So I think that if she was determined to become happy, she could achieve it also.

Also, I question if she was even happy before she went on her journey. I mean, her daughter hated her already. She was also pretty bitter about losing her land that I think it was a must to try to get it back. If she didn't go looking to get it back, she may not have been happy either. If she was never really that happy before, she might just be happy in the ending when she had more.

I also said it was a happy ending because Margaret and Nanapush seemed to have worked things out. :)

There is that aspect of not knowing everything in fiction that is kinda hard to decide on this. The story is just written that way, it most likely isn't continued so the audience just has to decide on their own. So I feel like the ending could lead to her happiness eventually.