Analysis Of The Neverending Story By Michael Ende

The Neverending Story is more than just a fantasy novel. Michael Ende, author of the novel, intended the book as a fantasy, children’s literature, romantic fantasy, and many more. His novel describes in details the vastness of fantasy, such as the story in itself and the quest to save the Empress (Ronzino). Nonetheless, he also targeted his book towards children through his characterization, whereby the protagonist would become victim of a family’s pressure. The book was originally successful in Germany, before it was translated into English and released in America in 1983. Moreover, the film was actually released in 1984, but had received negative reactions by audiences and Ende himself. The novel itself brings a deeper meaning by introducing
While reading the book, Bastian gets absorbed into his imagination of a magical land of Fantastica. The land is in danger because of the Nothingness that is threatening to destroy it and to the kill the benevolent Empress who is in charge. The dying Empress then sent a quest for Falkor and Atreyu to find a cure for him. Yet, the mystical part of all is that as Bastian began reading, he realized that the characters are reading and repeating the stories he is reading. Only this time, Bastian is included in the story as the book theft. Bastian becomes trap in Fantastica, and can only return to the human world after giving his last memory of his name. According to Tzvetan Todorov, “Fantasy is defined as literature in which the characters and readers hesitate when presented questions about reality” (Wiedenmann 19). Bastian is clearly in awe after knowing that Fantastica exist, and has never doubted his sanity. As readers, it can be initially confusing whether the stories are intended to be real fantasies, or only a fraction of Bastian’s imagination. However, in the last section of the book, where Mr. Coreander, the book owner, says, “Bastian Balthazar Bux, if I’m not mistaken, you will show many others the way to Fantastica, and they will bring us the Water of Life. (453)” Hence, readers become
Authors of children’s literature may have different purpose to include the sensitive topic regarding family or bullies. It is either so that children can easily relate to the story, or it poses as a means to educate them. When looking at another novel called The Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson, the book is meant to educate more than it is to entertain. Paterson introduced the idea of bullying, while at the same time proposing solutions of how to deal with bullies in the most proper manner. In the case of The Neverending Story, readers can see that Bastian is a victim, for his father has neglected him ever since the death of his mother (9). Readers can depict sadness and loneliness from Bastian, when he says, “Father doesn’t say anything. He never says anything. It’s all the same to him” (9). Moreover, Ende also brushed into the topic of bullying, a common thing children experiences. Bastian is a young child, who is often conformed to peer pressures and bullying in school. The purpose of introducing such topic is so that children can relate to them, and can be comforted by knowing that others commonly experience the problems they