Madame de Thèbes Ending Explained: What Happened and Why?

What Happens at the End of Madame de Thèbes?

The story is wacky – a gypsy is cursed by her father, so that she has to deny her illegitimate son in order for him to have a successful life. She gives him to a well-to-do lady who has lost her own child. Later, he has grown up to be a politician who wants to become the foreign minister. He doesn’t know that his real mother is the famous Madame de Thebes, the fortuneteller who all politicians make sure to visit! This information falls into the hands of a rival, who tries to use it to ruin his career. Meanwhile, the rival’s attractive daughter is attacked by a ruffian and needs to be rescued… There are a lot of striking images in this film. You can see the beauty of them even if the state of the print is far from perfect. The Norwegian actress Ragna Wettergreen gives a haunting performance as Madame de Thebes, with wisdom and regret – and quite a few melodramatic gestures. Understatement was not the norm in those days.

Mauritz Stiller's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Ragna Wettergreen (Ayla)'s journey. She gives him to a well-to-do lady who has lost her own child.

How Does Ragna Wettergreen (Ayla)'s Story End?

• Ragna Wettergreen: Ragna Wettergreen's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
• John Ekman (Ayla's father): John Ekman's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• Märta Halldén (Countess Julie): Märta Halldén's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

What Does the Ending of Madame de Thèbes Mean?

The ending of Madame de Thèbes brings the narrative to a close, though viewer reception has been mixed. The resolution of Ragna Wettergreen's story may not satisfy all audiences.