I know there is a somewhat common belief that Beth keeps the power at the end because Norman comments on her beauty and she smiles at him as if it’s a knowing smile.

But there is nothing in the book that alludes to Beth even wanting to be beautiful or desired by men. She wants to be strong. To be seen as powerful among men. She’s offended with how Harry describes the “Amazon with great….” In the spaceship. She works out. She’s muscular. It’s what she wants. She doesn’t want softer, more feminine features.

That’s what NORMAN wants. He makes the distinction early on about her masculine features and it’s not in a positive connotation. He notices her subtle, more feminine changes as the story progresses. He fantasizes about her seducing him and also about him risking his life to save her when he dives into water. He should have been dead really.

He constantly saves the day throughout the whole book. There is even a part where Beth tells him that he’s acting the way he is because he’s jealous that he’s the only one there without an actual purpose. Because his science isn’t “real”. Also he wasn’t even supposed to be there…only got on because others were not available. He was too old. Too out of shape, etc.

The whole story is a big “eff you” from Norman to everyone else.

I know supposedly others had the “power”. At one point Norman and Beth fight over activating the explosives using their mind. But I have to ask. Was it just Norman the entire time?