# How do you understand the ending of "Going Postal"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2011, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-understand-the-ending-of-going-postal/586113 "2011-06-20T03:51:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-understand-the-ending-of-going-postal/586113/41 "2011-06-21T19:33:51Z")
> [@Caveat\_lector\_1](#): > > Also, I could see him thinking that any offer of Vetinari’s was a trick and that he would eventually be done away with anyway and that he’d prefer going out on as much of his own terms as possible. Yes, I can see that as a possibility, if Gilt thinks Vetinari isn’t really offering him a job. That could be what “doesn’t believe in angels” means. However, that isn’t really suicide, as in Gilt’s mind he is just choosing one death over another. > [@Caveat\_lector\_1](#): > > I wouldn’t call them principles so much, as that seems to carry the connotation of right and wrong, but I’d say that I think Gilt was an arrogant and prideful man and that I could see him preferring not to live at all rather than living defeated and subservient. The problem I have with this interpretation is that it requires Gilt to understand he can’t get the better of Vetinari, which I think is inconsistent with his character. Moist is a little bit smarter and more self-aware than Gilt, but he still thinks he can escape, until Mr Pump shows up. If Gilt thinks the choice is between death and subservience, why doesn’t he play along and try and escape later? ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-understand-the-ending-of-going-postal/586113/42 "2011-06-21T19:52:32Z")
> [@Tanbarkie](#): > > I think that’s oversimplifying it, though. Reacher Gilt clearly _didn’t_ think “he could do whatever he felt like, and have it succeed” - otherwise, why even bother with the bearded, eye-patched, parrot-on-the-shoulder getup at all? If he can do whatever he feels like, and succeed, then he should be able to proclaim his piratical nature while wearing a ballroom gown. I think you missed my point. Instead of doing what a con-man would usually have to do in order to get his hands on someone else’s money (ie appear plausible and trustworthy), Gilt’s deliberately gone completely the other way. He’s blatantly dressed himself as the most untrustworthy person around – he’s said, “Look at me! I’m a pirate! A villain! I’m going to steal your money!” He’s rubbed their noses in it — dared them to catch on — and it all still worked just the way he wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-understand-the-ending-of-going-postal/586113/43 "2011-06-21T20:02:18Z")
I don’t think Gilt was able to tolerate anyone else even appearing to be above him. Moist at the beginning of the book is willing to go through the motions of taking a crap job, so long as it leads to better things for him later. But Gilt always has to be seen to be on the top. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-understand-the-ending-of-going-postal/586113/44 "2011-06-21T20:02:23Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > There seems to be little distinctive difference between that and Gilt believing Vetinari would just let him walk away. Either way he thought he actually could just walk, when in fact the choice Vetinari was offering him was mere illusion. I’m seeing it as the difference between believing Vetinari would let him go and \*\*not \*\*believing Vetinari could stop him going. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-understand-the-ending-of-going-postal/586113/45 "2011-06-22T22:10:20Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Moist at the beginning of the book is willing to go through the motions of taking a crap job, so long as it leads to better things for him later. Better things such as a fast horse and an open road? 🙂 (Albeit that doesn’t work out and he ends up having to actually do the job). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-understand-the-ending-of-going-postal/586113/46 "2011-06-22T22:43:35Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > I’m having trouble reconciling the Gilt character with suicide. Not me. Not if the alternative is **civil service.** Gilt has his principles, such as they are. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-understand-the-ending-of-going-postal/586113/47 "2011-06-23T00:11:05Z")
I’m with the camp that believes Gilt did not intend to die, but, in his arrogance and, perhaps, confusion after losing everything and changing status so completely, did not listen to or understand Vetinari’s speech, and walked out the door and fell, unaware. Vetinari’s speech to Drumknott was entirely ironic. Vetinari is entirely capable of tricking a man into walking into his own death. However, the man can avoid death if he can put aside his (truly fatal) flaws. Also, kudos to the person who said that Moist pays attention to the outer world, to people, and Gilt pays attention to himself. Very true, and explains the core of decency that Moist has, and the cold narcissism of Gilt. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-understand-the-ending-of-going-postal/586113/48 "2011-06-23T17:40:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Better things such as a fast horse and an open road? Yes, exactly. Like I said, he was willing to go through the motions, not to actually do it (that changes over the course of the book, of course). Under Moist’s plan, there was the illusion, however short-lived, that his persona would be working loyally under Vetinari. That illusion would itself be intolerable to Gilt. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-understand-the-ending-of-going-postal/586113/49 "2011-06-23T17:44:53Z")
As I’m rereading and reacquainting myself with Reacher, I’m starting to lean toward the notion that, while Reacher _would_ rather have died than work for Vetinari, he wasn’t prepared for it to happen quite that suddenly. I really don’t think he noticed the pit; he simply reacted in horror at Vetinari’s offer and fled when ‘given’ the chance. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-understand-the-ending-of-going-postal/586113/50 "2011-06-27T16:34:16Z")
Right. The line of Vetinari’s about Reacher being so dedicated was something of a dry wit. It wasn’t dedication to commit suicide, it was dedication to reject the offer and stick by his rejection and blindly march out the door. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-understand-the-ending-of-going-postal/586113/51 "2011-07-02T01:04:21Z")
I wonder if Mr. Pratchett has ever been polled on the record about the issue. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2011, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-understand-the-ending-of-going-postal/586113/52 "2011-07-02T07:16:45Z")
Last thoughts of Reacher Gilt: “You’re damn _right_ I walk straight out of this door and never hear from you agaiiiiiiiiii…” Moist is perspicacious enough to realize that Vetinari never _lies_, but you need to be aware of which truth he is telling. Gilt is a con-man on an epic scale and a ruthless killer to boot, but at bottom, not actually as bright as Moist, who plays him like a fish in the finale. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-understand-the-ending-of-going-postal/586113.md?page=2)