Lies Be Told

      At the end of the novel Friday’s unspoken words says more than the story led by Daniel Foe. In chapter IV we learn that Susan Barton was dead all along and the story that we read before questionably is a story wrote by Daniel Foe for his readers. However, Daniel Foe’s decision to end the novel with Susan Barton’s character as a fiction is questionable. Susan Barton’s presence was key till her discover of her daughter, after that she was no longer a conquistador, and her character lost meaning. This could be the reason why Daniel chose to eliminate Susan Barton’s character as real. Susan Barton is no longer interesting enough for the readers. J.M. Coetzee’s decision to eliminate Susan Barton through Foe’s writing parallels Tim O’Brien the author’s decision to recreate fictional truth to make his story more interesting. In both cases the author within the novel wants to give their reader a more interesting story, not necessarily a true story. 

      The death of Susan Barton leaves the reader with only Daniel Foe’s word and Friday’s presence. Daniel Foe the writer who is capable of telling a lie and Friday who has all the truth. The reader is left in a mist of confusion between the two characters.  J.M. Coetzee chose this ending because it makes for an entertaining story.