The Little Mermaid (2023) Ending Explained – Final Scene & Meaning

Ariel reclaims her voice after discovering Ursula's deception. When Ursula reveals she has been secretly collecting the voices of other merfolk, Ariel confronts her and manages to strike Ursula with a ship's mast during the final battle. This act breaks Ursula's control and allows Ariel to regain her voice, restoring both her ability to speak and her human form.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Ursula is shown taking voices from other merfolk, hinting at her deceptive nature and the source of her power.

• voice
• Ursula
• deception
• restoration
• sea witch

Yes, Ursula is defeated and dies at the end. When Ariel strikes her with the ship's mast during their confrontation, Ursula is fatally wounded. Her body disappears into the sea, marking her permanent demise after her scheme to turn Ariel into her loyal pawn fails.

Foreshadowing: Ursula's greed and willingness to exploit others sets her on a path toward destruction throughout the film.

• Ursula
• death
• sea witch
• defeat
• villain

After Ursula is defeated and Triton is restored to his full power, he witnesses Ariel's courage, her willingness to sacrifice for love, and her determination to follow her heart. Recognizing that his daughter's happiness lies with Prince Eric and that her love is genuine, Triton uses his trident to transform Ariel into a human, granting her wish to live in the human world.

Foreshadowing: Triton's gradual shift from strict opposition to acceptance is hinted at when he destroys Ariel's collection, he shows frustration but also underlying love and confusion about her desires.

• Triton
• transformation
• human
• love
• acceptance

Triton is fully restored after Ursula's defeat. Previously, Ursula had stolen his trident and used it to strip him of his powers, trapping him in a weakened state. Once Ariel defeats Ursula, Triton regains his full royal powers and returns to his position as King of the Ocean.

Foreshadowing: Ursula's rise to power directly correlates with Triton's downfall, setting up the restoration scene.

• Triton
• restoration
• king
• powers
• trident

Yes, Ariel and Eric sail away together on a ship at the end of the movie. After Ariel becomes fully human and their love is finally free from obstacle, they set off to explore the world together, beginning their new life as a couple.

Foreshadowing: Their growing connection throughout the film, including Eric's search for the girl who saved him, builds toward this romantic conclusion.

• Eric
• Ariel
• romance
• ending
• sail
• couple

Ariel defeats Ursula by using a ship's mast as a weapon during their confrontation. When Ursula attempts to trap Ariel and take her voice permanently, Ariel fights back and strikes Ursula with the mast, breaking Ursula's hold on her and ending the sea witch's reign of terror.

Foreshadowing: The storm rescue sequence earlier demonstrates Ariel's bravery and willingness to act heroically.

• battle
• defeat
• ship mast
• Ursula
• victory

Ariel is fully human at the end of the movie. After Triton uses his trident to transform her, she permanently loses her mermaid tail and gains legs, allowing her to live on land with Prince Eric as a human woman.

Foreshadowing: The deal with Ursula was meant to give Ariel legs temporarily, but only Triton's magic could make the transformation permanent.

• transformation
• human
• mermaid
• legs
• Triton

Ariel's tear symbolizes her emotional fulfillment and the successful blending of her two worlds, mermaid and human. It represents her journey from a curious young mermaid yearning for something more to someone who has found love, acceptance, and her place in the world. The tear signifies both joy and the bittersweet nature of leaving her old life behind.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the film, Ariel's tearful moments often accompany significant emotional turning points in her journey.

• tear
• symbolism
• emotion
• fulfillment
• two worlds

The ending conveys that love and acceptance can bridge even the deepest divides between different worlds and people. It celebrates the idea that pursuing one's dreams and following one's heart can lead to happiness, while also showing that understanding and forgiveness from family can resolve conflicts. The hopeful ending reinforces that courage in the face of adversity ultimately rewards those who dare to dream.

Foreshadowing: The film's early establishment of Ariel's curiosity and optimism sets the stage for this message of hope and self-discovery.

• meaning
• ending
• love
• acceptance
• hope
• dreams

Ursula's plan fails because she underestimates Ariel's determination and love for her family. When Ursula reveals she has been stealing voices from other merfolk to empower herself, Ariel's discovery gives her the strength to fight back. Additionally, Ariel's selfless act of choosing to save her father over maintaining her human form ultimately earns Triton's trust and support, reversing Ursula's scheme.

Foreshadowing: Ursula's obsession with collecting voices is visible throughout the film, and her greed ultimately becomes her weakness.

• Ursula
• plan
• failure
• deception
• greed