The Witch ending explained requires a careful examination of symbolism, historical context, and the film’s unflinching commitment to its bleak vision of Puritan America. Robert Eggers’ 2015 directorial debut stands as one of the most discussed horror films of the past decade, largely because its final scenes leave audiences with lingering questions about faith, family, and the nature of evil itself. The film’s conclusion, where young Thomasin walks naked into the forest and joins a coven of witches, represents far more than a simple twist””it serves as the logical culmination of every theme the narrative has carefully constructed over its ninety-minute runtime. Understanding why The Witch ends the way it does matters for anyone interested in thoughtful horror cinema. The film presents a family torn apart not merely by supernatural forces but by the very religious beliefs they cling to for salvation.
Eggers based his screenplay on actual accounts from the period, drawing dialogue directly from journals, court records, and religious texts from 17th-century New England. This historical accuracy gives the ending additional weight, as audiences recognize that the fears depicted on screen were genuinely held by real people who lived under constant threat of what they believed was literal demonic influence. By the end of this analysis, readers will understand the multiple layers of meaning in The Witch’s final scenes. We will explore how the ending functions as both a supernatural horror climax and a feminist liberation narrative, examine the historical and religious context that shapes its impact, and address the ambiguities that have sparked countless debates since the film’s release. Whether viewed as a tragedy about a young woman’s damnation or a dark triumph of freedom over oppression, The Witch offers one of modern cinema’s most provocative and memorable conclusions.
Table of Contents
- What Actually Happens in The Witch Ending and What Does It Mean?
- The Religious Symbolism and Puritan Context of The Witch’s Final Scenes
- Thomasin’s Character Arc and the Feminist Reading of The Witch
- Black Phillip’s Role and the Devil’s Bargain Explained
- Ambiguity and Alternative Interpretations of the Ending
- How to Prepare
- How to Apply This
- Expert Tips
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Actually Happens in The Witch Ending and What Does It Mean?
The final act of The Witch begins with the family in complete collapse. William, the patriarch, lies crushed beneath a woodpile after an attack by the family’s possessed goat, Black Phillip. Katherine, driven mad by grief and religious hysteria, attacks her daughter Thomasin, whom she blames for all the family’s misfortunes. In self-defense, Thomasin kills her mother with a billhook, leaving her the sole survivor of a family that has been systematically destroyed over the course of several days. Alone and covered in her mother’s blood, Thomasin enters the family’s barn and addresses Black Phillip directly, asking if he is truly the Devil and if he can speak to her. After a tense silence, a deep voice responds affirmatively.
This moment confirms what audiences have suspected: the supernatural threat has been real all along, and the goat the family has kept serves as Satan’s vessel. Black Phillip, speaking through darkness, asks Thomasin what she wants””a direct inversion of the Puritan concept of submission to God’s will. The ending scene shows Thomasin signing Black Phillip’s book, though the actual act occurs off-screen. She then follows a now-human figure deeper into the forest, where she discovers a group of naked women dancing around a fire. As Thomasin joins them, the women begin to levitate, and she rises with them into the night sky, laughing with genuine joy for perhaps the first time in the film. This image of ascension deliberately mirrors religious iconography while inverting its meaning entirely.
The Religious Symbolism and Puritan Context of The Witch’s Final Scenes
To fully grasp The Witch ending, understanding Puritan theology proves essential. The family in the film practices a form of Calvinist Christianity that emphasized predestination””the belief that God had already chosen who would be saved and who would be damned before birth. This doctrine created profound anxiety among believers, as there was no way to know with certainty whether one was among the “elect” destined for heaven. Every misfortune could be interpreted as evidence of damnation, and the family’s escalating troubles feed directly into this paranoia. Thomasin exists in an impossible position within this theological framework. As a young woman approaching sexual maturity, she becomes a target of suspicion simply by existing.
Puritan culture associated female sexuality with temptation and sin, viewing women’s bodies as potential gateways for demonic influence. When baby Samuel disappears and the family’s crops fail, Thomasin””despite her genuine piety and innocence””becomes the obvious scapegoat. Her own mother accuses her of witchcraft, and her father proves too weak in his faith to defend her. The ending represents Thomasin’s acceptance of the role her community has thrust upon her. If she will be treated as a witch regardless of her actions, she might as well embrace the power that comes with that identity. black Phillip’s question”””Wouldst thou like to live deliciously?”””offers everything her Puritan upbringing denied: pleasure, autonomy, and freedom from constant guilt. The theological reading suggests Thomasin’s damnation was always inevitable within her family’s belief system, making her final choice less a fall from grace than an acceptance of a fate that was predetermined by their own worldview.
Thomasin’s Character Arc and the Feminist Reading of The Witch
Many scholars and viewers interpret The Witch ending as a feminist narrative about liberation from patriarchal religious control. Throughout the film, Thomasin has virtually no agency. Her father sells her labor to another family without consulting her. Her mother views her with suspicion and hostility. Her younger siblings torment her with accusations of witchcraft. Even her prayers go unanswered by a silent God who seems to have abandoned the family entirely. When Thomasin joins the coven, she gains everything her previous life denied.
The coven appears as a community of equals, dancing freely without shame or hierarchy. The levitation scene symbolizes literal transcendence””rising above the earthly constraints that kept her bound. Her laughter in the final shot marks a stark contrast to the grimness that has defined every previous moment. From this perspective, the Devil functions less as a literal evil force and more as a symbol of everything Puritanism forbade: bodily pleasure, female community, and self-determination. Director Robert Eggers has acknowledged this reading while noting its complexity. The liberation Thomasin achieves comes at tremendous cost””the death of her entire family and the surrender of her soul. Whether this represents genuine freedom or simply trading one form of domination for another remains deliberately ambiguous. The film refuses to provide easy answers about whether Thomasin’s choice constitutes triumph or tragedy.
- Thomasin begins the film as the most devout family member, earnestly confessing her sins
- Every attempt she makes to help the family results in blame and accusation
- Her developing body is treated as inherently sinful and dangerous
- She is denied any control over her own future or choices
Black Phillip’s Role and the Devil’s Bargain Explained
Black Phillip serves as one of cinema’s most memorable depictions of Satan, despite appearing for most of the film as simply an ill-tempered goat. The reveal that Black Phillip can speak””and has been influencing events all along””recontextualizes everything that came before. His seemingly random attacks, his presence during key moments of family conflict, and the twins’ unsettling relationship with him all gain new significance. The bargain Black Phillip offers follows traditional folklore patterns while subverting expectations. Classic devil’s bargains typically involve explicit terms: wealth, power, or knowledge in exchange for one’s soul after a set period. Black Phillip’s offer remains vaguer and more seductive. He promises “the taste of butter” and “a pretty dress”””simple pleasures that Thomasin’s austere life has denied her. He asks what she wants rather than telling her what he will take. This approach positions him as a liberator rather than a tempter, though the audience understands the ultimate price. The film suggests Black Phillip has been patiently working toward Thomasin’s conversion throughout the narrative. Baby Samuel’s abduction, the family’s crop failure, Caleb’s bewitchment””all serve to isolate Thomasin and destroy her faith.
By the time Black Phillip speaks to her, she has nothing left to lose and no one left to trust. ## Historical Accuracy and Period Details in The Witch’s Conclusion Robert Eggers spent years researching 17th-century New England before writing The Witch, and this dedication to historical accuracy shapes the ending significantly. The dialogue throughout the film, including Black Phillip’s seduction of Thomasin, draws from actual historical documents. Court transcripts from the Salem witch trials, Puritan religious texts, and personal diaries all contributed language that appears nearly verbatim in the screenplay. The depiction of the witches’ sabbath in the final scene reflects period beliefs about what occurred at such gatherings. Contemporary accounts described witches meeting in forests, dancing naked, flying through the air, and worshipping Satan in the form of various animals. By presenting these elements exactly as 17th-century people believed they occurred, Eggers creates an ending that functions on multiple levels””as supernatural horror for modern audiences and as a realization of genuine historical fears. The film’s subtitle, “A New-England Folktale,” signals this approach explicitly. Everything supernatural that occurs in The Witch matches what Puritans believed actually happened in the wilderness surrounding their settlements. The ending does not modernize or rationalize these beliefs but presents them as lived reality for the characters. This commitment makes the finale more disturbing because it depicts a worldview in which such horrors were not fiction but constant, present danger.
- The name “Black Phillip” derives from historical witch trial accounts where accused witches described meeting the Devil in animal form
- His voice, provided by an uncredited actor, only emerges in darkness, maintaining ambiguity about his true form
- The brief glimpse of a human figure with goat legs connects to traditional depictions of Satan as having animal features
- His book, which Thomasin signs, represents the formal covenant between witch and Devil described in countless historical accounts
Ambiguity and Alternative Interpretations of the Ending
Despite the apparently clear supernatural elements, The Witch ending maintains significant ambiguity that has fueled ongoing debate. Some viewers argue that the entire film can be read as a psychological breakdown rather than a literal supernatural narrative. From this perspective, Thomasin’s final experiences represent a complete dissociative break from reality following the trauma of killing her mother. Supporting this interpretation: However, the film includes supernatural elements that occur outside Thomasin’s perspective, such as the witch’s preparation of the flying ointment from baby Samuel’s rendered flesh.
These scenes seem to confirm the literal reality of the supernatural, though they too could be read as representing what Thomasin believes happened rather than objective events. Eggers has stated he intended the supernatural elements to be real within the film’s world, but he also acknowledges the validity of psychological readings. The ending works precisely because it accommodates both interpretations. Whether Thomasin literally joins a coven or simply loses her sanity, the emotional truth remains the same: a young woman destroyed by the impossible demands of her religion finds release in its opposite.
- The family’s isolation and starvation could explain hallucinations
- Ergot poisoning from moldy grain (a historical explanation for witch trial hysteria) might cause the visions
- Thomasin’s guilt and religious terror could manifest as literally experiencing damnation
- The audience only sees supernatural events that Thomasin witnesses or could have imagined
How to Prepare
- **Familiarize yourself with Puritan theology basics.** Understanding concepts like predestination, original sin, and the Puritan view of wilderness as Satan’s domain provides essential context. The family’s behaviors that seem extreme to modern viewers made perfect sense within their belief system.
- **Read about historical witch trials.** The Salem trials occurred roughly forty years after The Witch’s setting, but similar accusations and executions happened throughout 17th-century New England. Knowing what accused witches were believed to do””and what happened to them””adds weight to Thomasin’s predicament.
- **Pay attention to family dynamics throughout the film.** The ending gains impact from recognizing how each family member contributed to Thomasin’s isolation. William’s pride, Katherine’s resentment, the twins’ cruelty, and Caleb’s confused adolescent feelings all play roles in her eventual fate.
- **Notice the film’s visual symbolism on first viewing.** Colors, light sources, and framing all contribute to meaning. The darkness that dominates most scenes contrasts sharply with the firelight of the witches’ sabbath, suggesting revelation and transformation.
- **Consider the role of gender throughout.** The film carefully depicts how Puritan society constrained women’s options and bodies. Thomasin’s upcoming arranged servitude to another family, her mother’s transferred trauma from losing children, and the witch’s ancient power all comment on female experience in this period.
How to Apply This
- **Track Thomasin’s faith throughout the narrative.** Her opening confession shows genuine belief; by the end, she willingly signs away her soul. Mark the moments where her faith erodes and what causes each crack.
- **Watch Black Phillip in background shots.** The goat appears in numerous scenes before his reveal, often in positions that suggest observation or influence. His presence gains new meaning on repeat viewings.
- **Listen for changes in the musical score.** Mark Korven’s dissonant soundtrack shifts notably during the ending, with the harsh strings giving way to something almost transcendent during the levitation scene.
- **Compare the opening and closing images.** The film begins with the family’s exile from their community; it ends with Thomasin’s acceptance into a new one. Consider what this parallel suggests about belonging and identity.
Expert Tips
- **Watch with subtitles the first time.** The period-accurate dialogue uses archaic vocabulary and syntax that modern ears may miss. Understanding every word enhances comprehension of the religious and thematic elements.
- **Research “spectral evidence” after viewing.** This legal concept, which allowed testimony about dreams and visions as proof of witchcraft, explains how innocent people could be condemned. Thomasin faces this same impossible standard.
- **Avoid reading the ending as purely triumphant or purely tragic.** The film’s power comes from holding both possibilities simultaneously. Thomasin achieves freedom but at unspeakable cost; she escapes oppression but enters damnation. Neither reading alone captures the full meaning.
- **Consider the film’s relationship to other “elevated horror” works.** The Witch helped establish a contemporary movement of art-house horror films. Comparing its ending to those of Hereditary, Midsommar, and The Lighthouse (also directed by Eggers) reveals thematic connections about isolation, family, and transgression.
- **Rewatch the ending scene with sound design in mind.** The layered chanting, natural sounds, and musical score create an overwhelming sensory experience. The sound design alone tells its own story of transformation and release.
Conclusion
The Witch ending explained in full reveals a conclusion that operates on multiple levels simultaneously. On the surface, it presents the damnation of a young Puritan girl who signs her soul to Satan and joins a coven of witches. Beneath that literal reading lie rich layers of historical commentary on religious extremism, feminist critique of patriarchal control, and psychological exploration of trauma and isolation. The ending works because it refuses to simplify any of these elements, instead presenting an image that disturbs, provokes, and lingers long after the credits roll.
Robert Eggers crafted a finale that respects both historical belief and modern interpretation. The Witch ending matters because it demonstrates how horror cinema can engage seriously with ideas about faith, freedom, gender, and evil without sacrificing visceral impact. For viewers approaching the film for the first time, prepare for an experience that demands active engagement rather than passive consumption. For those returning to analyze its depths, each viewing reveals new details and connections that enrich understanding. The Witch stands as proof that horror films can pose genuine philosophical questions””and that the most terrifying answers are often the ones we must discover for ourselves.
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