The novel famously offers three different conclusions to the story:

An intrusive, modern voice who interrupts the story to discuss history, philosophy, and the art of writing. Key Themes

⚓ Fowles does not pretend the story is real. He admits the characters are products of his imagination and even "appears" in the book as a traveler on a train. The Three Endings

Charles finds Sarah, but she refuses to return to him, choosing her independence over a conventional romantic ending. Historical Context Setting: Lyme Regis, England, 1867.

Charles’s interest in Darwin mirrors his own social evolution from a bored aristocrat to an independent man.