Merci

Lights will guide you home.

The typical Bildungsroman novel tells the tale about the growing up or coming of age of a person looking for answers and experience. It usually involves a young man going out in the world to seek his fortune but also comes in more benign forms in recent adaptations with the protagonist looking for career, love, acceptance. Usually, in the beginning of the story there is an emotional loss or conflict which makes the protagonist leave on his journey. In a Bildungsroman novel, the goal is maturity and this is achieved gradually but with difficulty. The Bildungsroman novel is the epitome of the journey being more important than the destination. But to me the end is important too, as is knowing when the journey has come to an end. Literature is a reflection of life but unlike a Bildungsroman's novel such as Great Expectations, life doesn't allow us to re-write the end and acceptance of the ending and what it entails is perhaps as important and as difficult as the journey. The End.

'I have often thought of you', said Estella.
'Have you?'
'Of late, very often. There was a long hard time when I kept far from me the remembrance of what I had thrown away when I was quite ignorant of its worth. But, since my duty has not been incompatible with the admission of that remembrance, I have given it a place in my heart.'
'You have always held your place in my heart,' I answered.
And we were silent again until she spoke.
'I little thought,' said Estella, 'that I should take leave of you in taking leave of this spot. I am very glad to do so.'
Glad to part again, Estella? To me parting is a painful thing. To me, the remembrance of our last parting has been ever mournful and painful.'
'But you said to me,' returned Estella, very earnestly, "God bless you, God forgive you!" And if you could say that to me then, you will not hesitate to say that to me now - now, when suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but I hope into a better shape. Be as considerate and good to me as you were , and tell me we are friends.'
'We are friends,' said I, rising and bending over her, as she rose from the bench.
'And will continue friends apart,' said Estella.
I took her hand in mine, and we went out of the ruined place; and as, the morning mists had risen long ago when I first left the forge, so, the evening mists were rising now, and in all the broad expense of tranquil light they showed to me, I saw no shadow of another parting from her.
~Charles Dickens, Great Expectations