But, most importantly, it is a story about true love. The hero dies before he saves his true love. But Goldman knew that this would hardly be a satisfactory answer for many of his readers - for many think like the grandson. So he provided a second, happy ending for those who would prefer a happy conclusion over his intended finale. Life can be so unfair, and we don't like it.
Criminals can profit from their crimes while many good, honest folk barely scrape by.
That wonderful, clean living person can develop cancer at the age of 40, while the one who smokes 2 packs a day lives with health into his eighties. Think of the blind man of our story. Blind since birth. He's never seen his mother, or a sunset, the wildness of the market place, the beauty of art. He becomes the butt a living illustration for some on-going theological discussion.