The Meaning and Impact of the Phrase "This is the End"
The Significance of "This is the End"
The phrase "this is the end" often signifies a major turning point or climactic moment. It conveys a sense of finality, that something monumental has come to a close. When uttered in films, books, or music, "this is the end" creates drama and impact.
Use in Film and Television
Some of the most memorable uses of "this is the end" occur in pivotal scenes in film and television. For example, The Doors song "The End" plays during the famous opening scene of Apocalypse Now. As images of the Vietnam War flash across the screen, Jim Morrison repeatedly sings "This is the end." This immediately sets an ominous, consequential tone.
In romantic films like Casablanca, saying "this is the end" signifies the termination of a relationship. When Humphrey Bogart tells Ingrid Bergman "this is the end" as she tries to explain why she can't stay in Casablanca with him, it's a devastating turning point. Those three words seal their breakup.
"This is the End" in Songs
Many impactful songs have used the phrase "this is the end." The Doors' song "The End" is an epic 12-minute track featuring haunting oedipal lyrics. When Jim Morrison wisps "This is the end, my only friend, the end," it cements the song's dark, unsettling vibe.
The Beatles also have a song called "The End" which closes out their Abbey Road album. As the final Beatles song recorded, lyrics like "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make" have extra weight and significance.
Literal Meanings
"This is the end" can also be used in a literal sense. For example, a commencement speaker may say "This is the end of your college career and the beginning of the rest of your lives." Or at the conclusion of a relationship, one partner may solemnly state "This is the end for us." The phrase denotes that something has conclusively finished.
Uses on Social Media
On social media, "this is the end" is often used hyperbolically for comedic effect. Users may dramatize minor inconveniences by declaring "This is the end" or "It's been real, this is the end for me." Beyonce even posted an Instagram photo of her levelling a unamused look at the camera with the caption "Me: *tries to make new friends* Also me: this is the end."
These joking usages poke fun at the gravitas of "this is the end" by applying it to trivial matters. They prove that the phrase has entered the cultural lexicon as shorthand for "dramatic conclusion."
The Emotional Impact
When uttered in film, music, or real life, "this is the end" packs an emotional punch. The finality of it, the closing of a major chapter, is difficult to process. Whether it signifies death, a breakup, or the end of an era, "this is the end" overwhelms listeners with its weighty implications. It's difficult to remain stoic in the face of such an ominous, definitive statement.
The innate power of the words often leads to memorable, forceful deliveries. Think of Bender's drawn out reading of "This is the end, my only friend, the end" in The Breakfast Club. Or the raw emotion of Roger Waters screaming "This is the end" at the climax of Pink Floyd's "In the Flesh." The gravitas of the phrase lends itself to passionate, dramatic performances.
So the next time you hear a character solemnly utter "This is the end" or a song build to those momentous words, understand that you are witnessing an unforgettable, goosebump-inducing moment. Few phrases encapsulate such a potent sense of finality and closure. "This is the end" will continue giving audiences chills as long as humans tell stories and make music.
FAQs
What are some famous uses of "this is the end" in movies?
Some iconic uses are in Apocalypse Now when "The End" plays during the opening scene, and Casablanca when Humphrey Bogart tells Ingrid Bergman "this is the end." It creates drama and finality.
Why does "The End" by The Doors have such a strong impact?
The haunting lyrics, Jim Morrison's vocal delivery, and the song's length build an ominous, dark vibe. When Morrison repeatedly sings "This is the end," it cements the song's unsettling tone.
How can "this is the end" be used humorously?
On social media, people often use it hyperbolically about minor inconveniences. This pokes fun at how seriously "this is the end" is usually uttered.
Why is this phrase so emotionally powerful?
The sense of finality overwhelms people. Hearing "this is the end" makes listeners confront the gravity of a definitive closing chapter.
What makes the delivery of "this is the end" so memorable?
Actors and musicians often perform the phrase in drawn out, emotional ways. The gravitas lends itself to dramatic, passionate deliveries.
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