reaction part 3

Part three was the climatic end to The Reader.  Hanna and Michael finally reconnect after all these years, and Hanna learns to read (congratulations).  I was kind of confused about Hanna, I never really felt like I understood Hanna.  She is always bouncing around from being the best thing that happened to Michael, to the worst thing that tore apart all his other relationships and tormented him throughout his life.  I was ok with her suicide.  No sense in keeping someone around who clearly doesn’t want to be alive anymore.  She left her money to a Jewish charity, and made peace with herself.  In her old age, I doubt there would be anything significant she could accomplish anyway.  It’s not like suffering around for the last few years would have changed a bunch of people lives and made the world a better place.  She couldn’t be with Michael, because he was no longer attracted to her physically, and she didn’t have the strength to make a difference in the Jewish community.  I feel that her choice was understandable and tolerable.  This was probably better for Michael as well, because now he is released from her grip, and can focus more on raising his daughter and being a part of her life instead of Hanna’s.  With Hanna’s death comes the ability for Michael to move on and focus more on others, rather than always thinking of her and worrying about trying to reconnect in some way.