What Happens at the End of Platée - Rameau?

Platée is a character whose self-deception and entrancement places her in the middle of a heartless plot, devised by the gods to cure Juno of her obsessive jealousy over Jupiter and his romantic attachments. Jupiter pretends to fall in love with Platée only to abandon her once Juno arrives, proving she has no reason to be jealous. Comedy had traditionally played little part in French opera. Lully soon eliminated comic episodes from his tragedies; from then until the appearance of this work, only a handful of operas had comic themes. That for Platée is the mock marriage between the god Jupiter and an ugly marsh nymph, who is totally convinced of her own charms.

Louisa Muller's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Henry Waddington's journey. Jupiter pretends to fall in love with Platée only to abandon her once Juno arrives, proving she has no reason to be jealous.

How Does Henry Waddington's Story End?

• Henry Waddington: Henry Waddington's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
• Robert Murray: Robert Murray's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• Holly Brown: Holly Brown's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

What Does the Ending of Platée - Rameau Mean?

The ending of Platée - Rameau brings the narrative to a close, though viewer reception has been mixed. The resolution of Henry Waddington's story may not satisfy all audiences.