Frankenstein ends with Victor Frankenstein dying as the creature completes his pursuit and then the creature departs, choosing to end his own life rather than continue vengeance. This culmination ties together the themes of responsibility, empathy, and the consequences of playing god. Key endings across notable adaptations and the novel:

• In Mary Shelley’s novel, Victor chases the Monster to the Arctic, falls exhausted and dies on Captain Walton’s ship. The Monster then appears, mourning Victor, expresses intention to burn himself on a pyre, and disappears into the ice, leaving Walton and the crew to ponder the tale and the Monster’s fate. This presents a grim closure to Victor’s ambition and a lonely, unresolved future for the Monster.

• In many modern film retellings (including Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation), the ending follows a similar arc where the Monster, after reconciling or expressing a form of pity toward Victor, frees others from danger (e.g., aiding a ship from ice) and then exits to accept a solitary fate, often implying suicide or self-imposed exile. Critics and explainers emphasize the Monster’s emotional growth and its ultimate decision to leave life behind, signaling a bittersweet, introspective finale rather than pure revenge.

• Some interpretations underline a final act of forgiveness or reconciliation between creator and creation, with the Monster recognizing the harm he caused but choosing a peaceful, isolated end instead of continuing conflict. This reframes the Monster from a mere villain to a tragic figure shaped by alienation and neglect.

If you’re looking for a specific version (novel vs. a particular film adaptation), tell me which one you have in mind and I can give a focused breakdown of how the ending unfolds in that version, including motifs, character arcs, and critical interpretations.