Why was she smiling at the end?

No I don't think Karen is smiling due to freedom. I believe she was devastated by the death of Martha and would never be the same following this (after all, they've been friends for years!).

I believe one of the main themes of the film is 'love' and how a lie/rumour can destroy it, get under it, and leave doubts about it and yourself. The other main theme is as someone else mentioned, how lies destroy lives in general. I do believe that as Karen smiles as she walks through the crowds of the people who had accused her is indeed, her walk of pride, her not dipping her head to shame nor anger, but seeing past it and having the strength to survive.

Mainly, I also think Martha killed herself out of love for Karen (as well as despair for the self loathing that now has been drilled into her by her aunt and society). It's possible she understood Karen could not go on with her life if she were to remain with her, and Karen wasn't likely to abandon her regardless of commands. Karen, of course is devastated by the ultimate sacrifice but at the end, I think she also understands that Martha is most likely at peace now and that she going on with her life, and holding her head up and remaining poised and strong is how Martha would have wanted her to continue with her life.

Karen was never a lesbian, and I doubt suddenly she was going to become a lesbian. There was some connotation to whether when she said she and Martha should leave and start fresh was a suggestion to Karen's giving in and accepting she had little left but to adapt to this new world she was supposedly guilty of living in, but I don't believe this.





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We're a race of peeping toms.