The ending of Master is deliberately ambiguous, leaving viewers questioning what was real and what was symbolic. Throughout the film, there are signs pointing to supernatural events, such as Jasmine experiencing visions of a witch and injuries that could be attributed to sleepwalking, which ties into the New England folklore of Margaret Millet, a woman executed as a witch. However, the film also offers a non-supernatural explanation—that Jasmine's injuries might be the result of sleepwalking or hallucinations, and the figures seen around campus might be part of a religious group rather than ghosts. This ambiguity is intentional, emphasizing that the real horrors the characters face are rooted in racial trauma rather than supernatural forces.
The story culminates with Jasmine's tragic death, hanging herself in the cursed Room 302, fulfilling the local legends and possibly symbolizing her personal torment and the racial violence inflicted upon her. Yet, it's left uncertain whether her death was caused by supernatural influence or the brutal reality of racism and emotional abuse. Similarly, the eerie appearances of hooded figures are never definitively explained, adding to the unsettling atmosphere.
A major twist reveals that Liv, the professor who harshly judges Jasmine, might be hiding her true identity—the daughter of a white woman claiming to be Black—a deception that aligns with real-life cases of racial impersonation like Rachel Dolezal. This revelation underscores a core theme of the film: that some individuals may perform racial identities for personal or institutional gain, exploiting the desire for diversity while perpetuating deep-seated inequalities. Liv’s complicated story raises questions about authenticity and the corrupting influence of institutions that rely on surface-level diversity to mask ongoing oppression.
In the final scenes, Gail, the college administrator fighting against the campus racism, decides to leave Ancaster altogether, symbolizing her realization that the institution is incapable of meaningful change. Her discovery of symbols of white supremacy within the college’s history and her confrontation with persistent racism suggest that she feels her efforts are futile in a system built on racial injustice. The ending, like the film itself, remains open-ended—whether the supernatural elements were real or metaphorical, the real terror lies in the ongoing, persistent racial violence and the ways institutions perpetuate it. Ultimately, Master leaves viewers pondering the boundaries between myth and reality, and the profound impact of racial trauma hidden beneath the veneer of high society.
