Summary and Analysis
Epilogue - Ronnie
Summary
Although Ronnie experiences the emotional upheaval of dealing with the death of a loved one, she uses the knowledge of her father and their summer together to go on living rather than mourning him for too long.
Ronnie and her mom no longer fight, and Jonah is concerned that his mother is sick too. Ronnie reassures him that they have not stopped fighting because of that. She now spends most of her time with her brother and practicing the piano.
Ronnie auditioned at Juilliard and now practices daily there. She is torn between wanting to hear from him and wanting to be able to just move on. But Will surprises Ronnie: He calls her to tell her that he is coming to New York — he is actually calling from Juilliard. He has decided to transfer to Columbia.
Analysis
The epilogue ties up all the loose ends and provides a satisfying closure to the story. Over the course of the novel, Ronnie learned to "embrace life and flourish," for life is for the living. True to form, The Last Song has a happy ending, and life does go on.
Glossary
Columbia New York's oldest university and member of the Ivy League
From Nicholas
Ronnie develops an understanding of various love relationships throughout The Last Song — toward her father, toward Will, toward herself, and toward her God. Could she be considered a modern Everyman for contemporary teenagers who are trying to find their place in the world?
Of course. That's why she feels so real as a character. Because every teenager goes through exactly the same thing.