The Winter of Our Discontent question

It has been a while since I read this, but I believe I have a vivid memory of the ending, certainly what it meant to me, for it was powerful. Mark and Kiwi make points that I believe to be true.
As he goes to commit suicide, he reaches in his pocket and finds the talisman, which brings his daughter into focus, who is the only one of his family that is trustworthy. He realizes he must be there for her. She does represent hope. His suicide could take two lives, not that she will kill herself physically, but there will perhaps be a psychological death inside of her (the other light that will go out). To him it is worse to be psychologically dead. He can't do this to the one person he knows that is pure of heart.
This to me is very powerful. As a father, he gave her life, and now in return she gives him life. We can only speculate how his life will wind up, but we must realize, that if she is worth living for, she has given him a sense of worth. Who knows where this will take him, but certainly she has a better chance with him around.

It is my understanding that filled with guilt, he goes to his special place to slit his wrists. His daughter did not replace the razors with the talisman, but simply dropped it into his pocket as a reminder of strength and family.
Seeing the talisman makes him realize that he needs to be there for his family, especially his daughter. Not because she will off herself, but you never know for sure. I didn't take it as her life being the light that could go out, but maybe her potential to be great - or hell, to be normal.

I took it the same way you did Kiwi other than I thought he realized his daughter was the last member of the family who hadn't lost their way, and what the impact of what he planned to do would have on her (another light going out). His daughter represents optimism.

The message from his daughter is that she senses his despair and that she needs him.

Just finished it yesterday , gave it 5 stars , I was confused like u , but then i Knew that he survived , and I think part of Ethan dead that night , which is connected with his look to the world around him .. every one wearing a mask .. even his son .. even him .. and i think that what made him sad .. and pushed him to kill himself , that his son thought that he was a honest man , but in fact he was not !!

I think may have not read any other Steinbeck. While the other comments are correct about Ethan's daughter, the rest is a little confusing. In that last moment, Ethan has come to terms with a will to LIVE! His discontent has passed and he's wanting to Fight for Life again.... It's in this moment we see Steinbeck telling us, "sometimes it's too late..." Sadly I must give away that Ethan was killed in his secret place. The Irony is what makes this book a Great Read. Sorry if I ruined it for anyone.