The Evolution of Endings in the Modernist Novel

In the discussion of endings in the modernist novel, a contrast is drawn between the emphasis on opening lines in earlier literature and the importance placed on closing lines in modernist works. Traditional novels emphasized the creation of a world through opening lines, while modernist novels, like The Great Gatsby or The Sun Also Rises, stand out for their memorable closing lines, such as 'Isn't it pretty to think so?' and 'Isn't it pretty to think so?'. This shift signifies a move towards punctuating end points and cuts in the text, creating moments of absolute break that challenge excessive signification.