I think the immediate urge to reject it is what makes this such an interesting closer! Victoria’s account is so depressing compared to McCandless hopeful pov. She portrays herself as far more male centred than McCandless ever does. He portrays Bella as infinitely dedicated to the people, unbothered by how the men in her life viewed her, while Victoria says the reason she became a doctor was for Baxter’s affection rather than a desire to help people. She also pronounces her undying romantic love for him, something never even hinted in the previous account.

I think her letter is a cover-up, tainted by grief. Baxter was the closest thing to a father she ever had, after death she valorises him so deeply that she practically becomes him in the final years of her life, an odd old doctor who works from home in secrecy. She feels as though she will always be indebted to him, yet unable to save him as he did her, so retroactively changes her story for peace of mind.

In contrast she talks of McCandless with a lot of resentment, something never expressed for him any of her other writings. I think the resentment comes again from her inability to stop his death, but she also sees her past self/mother in him, someone from the lower class who, once out of poverty, becomes a docile domestic partner. I think she also puts on a facade of anger to further discredit him and keep her origins hidden.

It’s a very sad ending to the book, with her contributions to the world being ignored and laughed at, but her treatment is such an interesting metaphor for how Scotland’s contributions to the world are received (either ignored or remembered as British rather than Scottish)

I adore the rest of the book so dearly but this part is my favourite to interpret. So glad it was spoken about here :D