A Discussion About Epilogues
I've recently started really digging into the story I am writing, and have debated with myself on how I want to end the story. I decided on using an epilogue to give a little more insight into the ending of the last chapter (particularly, the last chapter ends with a gruesome character death and the epilogue would show the main character years down the line having come to terms with and eventually thriving after the events of the main story arc).
I've looked into articles and other writings debating the use of an epilogue, but I'm curious as to how the general public feels about them. Obviously not every story needs an epilogue, and in fact I believe some even suffer when including an unnecessary one. But a lot of what makes an ending or epilogue good is largely subjective, not including very obvious plot holes or objectively bad writing/planning.
For me, it truly is how satisfying the ending feels, and how true it is to the overall story and characters. If there is an epilogue, it almost feels like a little bonus to the ending that isn't necessary to the story, but allows the reader to feel more satisfied with the ending of the story, or rather as a way to come down from the high of a good ending.
My question to you is:
What makes a good epilogue? Where would it be necessary? And most importantly, what makes you as a reader or writer like or dislike an epilogue?