The Midwife's Tale Ending Explained: What Happened and Why?
Complete breakdown of the climax, final twists, and spoilers for The Midwife's Tale.
The Midwife's Tale Ending Explained: A young girl, the daughter of a lesbian couple, lies peacefully abed listening to one of her mothers reading her a bedtime story. Directed by Megan Siler, this 1995 romance film stars Stacey Havener (Lady Eleanor), alongside Gayle Cohen as Gwenyth, Carla Milford as Emma, Anthony Shaw Abaté as Lord William. Rated 4.5/10, the conclusion has sparked discussion among viewers.
What Happens at the End of The Midwife's Tale?
A young girl, the daughter of a lesbian couple, lies peacefully abed listening to one of her mothers reading her a bedtime story. The off-beat tale she hears is set in medieval times and chronicles the exploits of poor Lady Eleanor, an independent, free-spirited young aristocrat who would much rather spend her time riding and being outdoors than staying cloistered inside tending to needlework. Still she is a dutiful daughter and reluctantly abides by her late father's wish that she marry Lord William. William knows that he is not her dream lover, but he is patient and eventually she gets pregnant. Eleanor is terrified, for her mother lost her life and the life of her baby giving birth. Not wanting to suffer the same fate, she sneakily tries to engage the local midwife to come and abort the fetus. Unfortunately, the midwife has been accused of sorcery by the local priests and has been sentenced to die. Fortunately, young Gwenyth, a new midwife shows up.
Megan Siler's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Stacey Havener (Lady Eleanor)'s journey. The off-beat tale she hears is set in medieval times and chronicles the exploits of poor Lady Eleanor, an independent, free-spirited young aristocrat who would much rather spend her time riding and being outdoors than staying cloistered inside tending to needlework.
How Does Stacey Havener (Lady Eleanor)'s Story End?
- Stacey Havener: Stacey Havener's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
- Gayle Cohen (Gwenyth): Gayle Cohen's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
- Carla Milford (Emma): Carla Milford's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.
What Does the Ending of The Midwife's Tale Mean?
The ending of The Midwife's Tale brings the narrative to a close, though viewer reception has been mixed. The resolution of Stacey Havener's story may not satisfy all audiences.