‘Frankenstein’ Ending Explained: How Did Guillermo del Toro Conclude His Long-Anticipated Adaptation?

Guillermo del Toro’s long-anticipated adaptation of Frankenstein has finally arrived on Netflix, marking a new chapter in the filmmaker’s storied career. Known for his ability to blend dark fantasy with emotional depth, del Toro brings a fresh take on Mary Shelley’s iconic novel, with a focus on the father-son relationship between Dr Victor Frankenstein and his monstrous creation. While del Toro stays true to many elements of the original story, the film’s conclusion marks a significant departure from Shelley’s tragic ending, offering a moment of reconciliation instead of perpetual vengeance.

With performances by Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the Creature, the film has garnered praise for its haunting visuals, nuanced performances, and the director’s unique spin on a timeless tale. But how does del Toro’s Frankenstein end? Let’s dive into the closing moments of the film, and how they differ from the source material.

Dividing the Narrative Between Victor and the Creature

In Frankenstein, del Toro adapts the narrative to alternate between the perspectives of both Dr. Victor Frankenstein and his Creature, deepening the emotional complexity of the story. This duality mirrors Mary Shelley’s novel, but del Toro takes it a step further by expanding on Victor’s backstory and focusing on the Creature’s emotional growth.

The film begins with Victor, who recounts his troubled childhood. His obsession with defying death begins after the tragic loss of his mother during childbirth, which also claimed the life of his brother William. Fueled by grief and guilt, Victor embarks on his journey to reanimate the dead. With the support of his benefactor, Henrich Harlander (Christoph Waltz), and his attraction to his brother’s fiancée Elizabeth (Mia Goth), Victor achieves his goal of creating life, only to abandon his creation in revulsion.

As the narrative shifts to the Creature’s perspective, the film explores the Monster’s isolation and search for companionship. After surviving an attack and befriending a blind patriarch, the Creature seeks revenge on Victor after the family he has come to care for is killed by wolves. This sets the stage for the dramatic pursuit that leads both Victor and the Creature to the Arctic.

Key Moments of the Dual Perspectives in del Toro’s Frankenstein

Character	Actor	Key Events in the Narrative	Emotional Arc
Victor Frankenstein	Oscar Isaac	Recounts childhood trauma, obsession with reanimation, creation and abandonment of the Creature.	Desperation, guilt, and eventual recognition of his sins.
The Creature	Jacob Elordi	Narrates his isolation, survival, and quest for a companion. Seeks revenge after being rejected.	From anger and isolation to understanding and forgiveness.

The Climax: A Final Confrontation and Reconciliation

In the film’s final act, Victor and the Creature face off in a confrontation that will determine the fate of both their lives. After Victor is rescued by Captain Anderson (Lars Mikkelsen) and his crew, the Creature pursues them to the Arctic, where their final showdown occurs. This scene diverges from the novel, where Victor dies without ever reconciling with his creation. Instead, del Toro’s film takes a more emotional and redemptive turn.

Upon hearing the Creature’s side of the story, Victor comes to realize the true extent of his own failings. As the Creature tells his version of events, Victor’s cold, calculated hatred transforms into a moment of understanding. In his final moments, Victor begs the Creature for forgiveness, acknowledging him not just as his creation, but as his son. This moment of reconciliation, where the father and son are on equal footing emotionally, is one of the film’s most powerful.

Jacob Elordi, who portrays the Creature, describes this moment:

“The only way the Creature discovers his humanity is through forgiveness. It’s not revenge or violence, but seeing the other person and understanding them. This is where the Creature finds peace — in forgiveness and the acceptance of his father.”

A Bittersweet Ending: The Creature Chooses Life

The final scene of del Toro’s Frankenstein is both haunting and redemptive. As Victor dies, the Creature stands over him, his emotions a mixture of sorrow and release. Captain Anderson allows the Creature to leave without harm, signaling the beginning of his journey toward redemption. The Creature, now free from the shadow of his creator, steps into the frozen wilderness, and as the sun rises, he spreads his arms to embrace the day, rejecting his former fear of life.

This symbolic moment echoes an earlier scene in which Victor opened the blinds of his lab, teaching the Creature to feel the warmth of the sun and the promise of life. In the Arctic, the Creature’s childlike wonder for life is rekindled, offering a sense of closure for both characters.

The film ends with a quote from Lord Byron, a contemporary of Mary Shelley, which reads:

“The heart will break, yet brokenly live on…”
This poignant conclusion ties together the themes of grief, forgiveness, and the enduring human spirit, offering a sense of bittersweet resolution to both Victor and the Creature’s journeys.

Key Emotional Themes in the Film’s Conclusion

Theme	Significance	How del Toro Expands on It
Forgiveness	Central to the reconciliation between Victor and the Creature.	Victor’s acknowledgment of his creation as his son allows for mutual understanding.
Life vs. Death	The Creature’s final decision to embrace life rather than remain a symbol of death.	The Creature rejects his fears of living, signifying growth and acceptance.
Father and Son	The relationship between creator and creation evolves.	The final reconciliation offers a symbolic and emotional closure to their bond.

How Del Toro’s Frankenstein Differs from Mary Shelley’s Original Novel?

While del Toro remains faithful to the core of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, his adaptation diverges significantly in the way it resolves the relationship between Victor and the Creature. In Shelley’s novel, Victor dies consumed by his quest for revenge, never finding peace with his creation. The Creature, in turn, vows to destroy himself in the light of his maker’s death.

Del Toro’s ending, however, offers a more optimistic take on the story. The final moments of reconciliation between father and son, creator and creation, reflect the director’s own themes of forgiveness and redemption. As del Toro himself explains:

“For me, Frankenstein was never solely about the dangers of playing God, but about the way forgiveness can transcend all true horrors.”

By reinterpreting the ending, del Toro crafts a more hopeful and redemptive conclusion, where the monsters — both human and created — come to understand each other, and ultimately, themselves.

Conclusion

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant reimagining of Mary Shelley’s classic. While it departs from the original novel, particularly in its conclusion, del Toro’s take on the story is deeply grounded in themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the bond between creator and creation. The final reconciliation between Victor and the Creature is a powerful moment that redefines the tale for modern audiences, offering a message of healing and understanding that resonates far beyond the realm of Gothic horror.

With Frankenstein, del Toro not only pays homage to a classic but reinterprets it with his signature blend of dark fantasy and profound emotional depth, leaving audiences with a story that, much like the sun breaking over the horizon, gives hope even in the face of great tragedy.

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