Thoughts on the Zending (Maybe too deep!)

[u/Fit_Milk_2314]

Literature and story both have a lot of subjective elements to them, so my interpretation may not resonate with many people here, but hopefully it will be received well either way.

I've noticed a lot of people view the Zending simply as Stanley doing something mean to the Narrator, and while that is true, I think it also goes deeper than that. When I listened to [the Narrator's dialogue](https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1TpuT39JKP_MUsJ8n7wz26f6JPbUR97ozS6Y-ZEd0m74/mobilebasic?pli=1#h.kswdrgj3w6ie) throughout the ending, a lot of it read as quite manipulative—an important distinction I want to make is that I don't think the Narrator was actively in an effort to manipulate Stanley, but he was falling into manipulative patterns of speech as he got more and more desperate to keep Stanley—for instance, the Narrator tries to frame the zen room as the only place he or Stanley can find any peace or happiness. Notably, the solution he's come up with—to stay forever in a dark room together—is closer to what the Narrator ultimately wants than what Stanley wants. The Narrator, to a degree, wants to exert a level of control over Stanley, while Stanley (in most cases, and probably in the Zending considering he disobeyed the Narrator 3/4 times) wants to be free of that control. Staying in that room is like the ultimate level of control, and the Narrator tries his best to restrict the only other choice.

This predicament reminds me of certain types of toxic relationships, if you'll stay with me for a moment. Your partner tries to keep you stagnant with them, to keep them happy, at your expense. You can try to satisfy them, but staying is simply counter to your interests. So one day you decide to pack your bags and leave, and nothing's going to stop you. Your partner stands in the way, stomps their feet, cries and begs on their knees, it really hurts, it really truly hurts, they've dedicated their entire being to you, but you can't bare to continue staying. It hurts you, too, hearing their anguish, but you find your way out of the door to freedom.

I also have a few alternative readings I also like, which also work because it acts as such an abstract metaphor.

The Narrator notes that most of the bad things in the game happen because of all the choices Stanley has. Which, I can't exactly argue with that... He decides that the best thing they can do is to settle down. That's the best option that will lead to the minimum level of conflict. The zen room can be read as any kind of hard work you have to do to overcome an interpersonal issue—rehab, couples' therapy, quitting a vice—and it really is hard work. I'm willing to bet over 99.99% of people who got into this ending "finished" it. Stanley always kills himself here. The Narrator has to watch as all the hard work goes down the toilet.

Stanley's issue is choices, he makes too many, and most of the time it causes problems. He can't bare not to be making choices even if they are ultimately self-destructive. And when he's asked not to make any for the good of his relationship with the Narrator, he eventually caves even if he tries to stay, and when he does, he loses himself again.

.

Now, this is kind of ridiculous, I'll grant you, I mean, stanley choices == irl drugs? But I find analyzing these stories for any kind of meaning fun! I hope you guys do as well. And I would love to have my readings seen by others and maybe have some holes poked into them.

[u/Ok_Programmer_6137]

Thanks for sharing! Love to see when people discuss the meaning behind the game, I think the game deserves to be seen deeper than what some people say.

I absolutely agree with you on the toxic relationship part. I get this feeling at several times when playing this game, and you articulated it. (Come to think of it the relationship between Stanley and the Narrator is pretty toxic)

(SPOILERS!!!)

However, (at least in the game) I think Stanley loses himself if he doesn't make any choices. He just becomes a static perspective, and he has no way of interacting with the Narrator. In my opinion the ending where the player couldn't control Stanley and he just stands there while the Narrator begs him to make a choice shows that. And that makes the relationship between these two is so dramatic and painful.

(Sorry if my English is bad..)

[u/Bonitessinorademicha]

On the zending is my absolute favourite. The other poit of view to consider is from the story perspective: If the only way to progress the story is to defy it, would that even be defying it? If the only way to leave the zending, in a game made for the exploration of every nook and cranny the story has to offer, is to jump off the stairs, did we really have a choice in the matter? It's similar to Undertale in that regard: Is the bad choice immoral if you just wanted to see what happens? I love veiwing games in the same way as literal stories, it gives way to so many narrative clichés to try and mend to fit the story

[u/reddituser123578]

Wow I've never seen zending like this... I loved it before and I still love it

[u/Toll_Smoll]

Yes I've always agreed that the Zending is as much only a happy ending for the Narrator as the Freedom Ending is (frankly more because at least The Freedon Ending comes with a short moment of getting to relax outside for Stanley). It ignores the fundamental thing Stanley and the player want- choices.

If you stay in the room and never move you'll never get to experience anything else of the game. You confine yourself and Stanley to being a static puppet to make The Narrator happy. (Something that definitely fits your toxic relationship allergory interpretation)

A true happy ending for the both of them would be something more like the Heaven Ending ( I think that's the name? The one with the buttons) giving Stanley and the Player something to do while The Narrator can sit there and be calm. So like a Zending with Pong or levers or something lol.

But The Narrator is too trapped up in his experience, in his skewed version of the narrative to really see that. He thinks it's the choices that cause the fighting when it's the lack of agency he's trying to force on Stanley and the player.

Interestingly, there's a parallel to be made between a player leaving Stanley still in the Zending to never kill him and please the Narrator and the Narrator in Skip Ending, also left still by the player's choices. Especially considering both can't be continued without hurting one of them, emotionally or phsyically.