Last Scene in The Shawl

     I believe the last scene in the book is Rosa letting go.  I think it is very symbolic how she slowly moves on.  First she calls Stella who was part of her past before the camps and during and after.  I think this is symbolic because she is the first person she had through this ordeal and the first person she calls up.  Then she has a vision of Magda as a young teenage girl.  This is symbolic because Magda's death at a young age in the concentration camps had a huge impact on Rosa throughout her life.  The last stage of letting go is the interruption into the present reality.  This is when she gets a call from the receptionist saying a Mr. Persky was there to see her.
     When she calls Stella she does it to spark Magda's image in her brain.  You can tell from this conversation however that maybe Rosa's feelings towards Stella are changing a little.  Before all we heard was how horrible she thought Stella was and how cold she was.  Now you can see her more or less talking to her like a friend or companion.  For example on page 64, "In that case you come here," Rosa said.  "Oh my God, I can't afford it.  You talk like I'm a millionaire.  What would I do down there?"  "I don't like it alone.  A man stole my underwear."  "Your what?" Stella squeaked.""  This exchange between Stella and Rosa shows that maybe Rosa is lonely and wants Stella's company although she is trying to produce Magda from this conversation and almost seems that there may have been a need for Stella too.  You can also see after this quote that Stella also doesn't mind her coming back and caring for her aunt.
     After she hangs up the phone she envisions Magda as a young teen.   On page 65 it says, "And also she was always a little suspicious of Magda, because of the other strain, whatever it was, that ran in her.  Rosa herself was not truly suspicious, but Stella was, and that induced perplexity in Rosa."  You can see here that Rosa is beginning to listen to what people are saying especially Stella.  This is a start for her considering she wasn't listening at all.  Now the "suspicion" or thought of letting go of the past is sinking in and is helping her on the way to recovery.
     The last thing that points that she is starting to let go is the scene the receptionist is calling up to her to let her know Mr. Persky is down stairs and would like to see her.  Rosa Responds in these last lines, "'He's used to crazy women, so let him come up' Rosa told the Cuban.  She took the shawl off the phone.  Magda was not there.  Shy, she ran from Persky.  Magda was away."  Although you can clearly see that she is not completely over everything because it says that Magda just was away rather than gone, but you can see that reality or present reality is starting to sink in.  Whether it is because of finally just realizing or Mr. Persky entering her life it has made an effect.  She is starting to except an outsider into her life and she isn't so isolated anymore.  There is definitely a healing feeling at the end of this book.