Other Voices, Other Rooms Group

Topic: Is it possible to inteprete the ending with Joel leaving rather than staying in "Other Voices, Other Rooms"?

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1

kenglemd

The last paragraph is ambiguous. It states Joel's decision as "clear," but only infers his staying.

2

pmiranda2857

At the end of the novel, Joel has become an adult.  He takes responsibility for being the head of the house.  After Randolph nursed him back to health and he returned to the Landing, it is unlikely that Joel would want to leave. Below are two different reasons why Joel probably would not want to leave the Landing.

"The mature Joel ascends from the haunted garden at Skully's Landing to Randolph's room to embrace Randolph, leaving behind both his youth and his own sexual longing."

"Joel decided he liked being dependent. He felt Randolph was the only person who cared for him."

Joel has found what he is looking for, love and acceptance, so why would he leave.

3

kenglemd

Though Randolf seems to be the best choice for Joel from what he has experience, the relationship between the two can be nothing but dysfunctional. So Randolf never grew up and now needs Joel. At this age, it seems a decision Joel might make, but wrongly. A Joel who had truly matured would have left all these "oddballs," to have his needs fulfilled. I yield, this may be Capote's point, or rationalization, but not a good move for Joel.

4

kenglemd

Though Randolf seems to be the best choice for Joel from what he has experienced, the relationship between the two can be nothing but dysfunctional. So Randolf never grew up and now needs Joel. At this age, it seems a decision Joel might make, but wrongly. A Joel who had truly matured would have left all these "oddballs," to have his needs fulfilled. I yield, this may be Capote's point, or rationalization, but not a good move for Joel.

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