Poor Things

At the end of “Poor Things,” Bella has undergone a profound journey of self-discovery and emancipation. After learning the truth about her origins—that she was created by the scientist Godwin Baxter from her mother’s body and brain—she feels a mix of shock and curiosity about her past. Her desire to understand who she truly is drives her to explore her identity further. When she is presented with the chance to marry Max, her supportive partner, she instead chooses to follow her own curiosity and instincts, deciding to leave him behind and return to her past, even if it means re-engaging with her biological ancestor, Alfie Blessington. Alfie claims she is her former self, Victoria, and reveals dark details about her mother’s life, including her cruelty and suicide. Bella’s need to learn about her history and her mother’s secrets outweighs her love for Max, leading her to leave him at the altar and reunite with Alfie, returning to a life of aristocracy and the twisted revelations of her past.

Later, Bella confronts Alfie’s sinister plans to mutilate her to remove her urges and keep her with him forever. She resists by shooting him and escaping back to Godwin’s house, where she finds that Godwin has died. Despite these tragedies, Bella chooses to honor her creator by forging her own path—embodying her growth by becoming a doctor like Godwin. Her first act of this new life is to perform a bizarre but symbolic surgery: implanting a goat’s brain into Alfie’s body, turning him into a grass-eating creature. The film ends with Bella, Max, and Toinette watching with a mix of amusement and acceptance as Bella takes control of her destiny, embracing her transformed self and her limitless potential, no longer confined by societal or moral constraints but driven by her unquenchable desire to learn and create. Her journey from a revived experiment to an autonomous, empowered woman highlights her quest for self-knowledge, independence, and the power to redefine her identity.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:01