Young Frankenstein - Ending Explained

The plot of "Young Frankenstein" follows a path of discovery and redemption. After bringing the Monster to life with an "abnormal" brain, Frederick's creation escapes. The Monster has two key encounters parodying the original films: one with a little girl (where, instead of throwing her in the water, the Monster is catapulted off a seesaw) and another with a lonely blind hermit (Gene Hackman), who comically injures the creature while trying to be hospitable.

Frederick recaptures the Monster and, in a moment of epiphany, fully embraces his heritage, realizing he must love his creation to save it. He presents the now-docile Monster to the world in the iconic "Puttin' on the Ritz" musical number. However, a stage light explodes, and the Monster, who fears fire, is panicked by the crowd's reaction and is subsequently captured and chained by the police. Later, Frederick's fiancée Elizabeth arrives unexpectedly. The Monster escapes again, kidnapping Elizabeth. In a cave, she discovers the Monster is not only gentle but also possesses an enormous "schwanstucker," and she falls deeply in love.

To save the Monster from an angry mob led by Inspector Kemp, Frederick lures him back to the lab and performs a daring "intelligence transfer." This process stabilizes the Monster's brain and endows him with Frederick's intellect. The mob storms the castle and is about to hang Frederick when the now articulate and intelligent Monster intervenes, calming the villagers with a logical and moving speech. In the film's final twist, it's revealed that as a result of the transfer, Frederick has acquired some of the Monster's massive endowment, much to the delight of his assistant Inga. The film ends with two happy couples: Frederick with Inga, and the newly sophisticated Monster with a transformed Elizabeth, who now sports the iconic Bride of Frankenstein hairdo.

While primarily a straightforward parody, some critical analysis offers alternative readings. One interpretation views the film as a metaphor for artistic creation. Frederick, representing a filmmaker or artist, struggles with the legacy of past masters (his grandfather). He attempts to create something new but is inevitably drawn to the old formulas. His eventual success comes from embracing and personalizing the past, not rejecting it. The "Puttin' on the Ritz" scene can be seen as the ultimate artistic presentation, where the creator and creation work in perfect, harmonious tandem.

Another interpretation views the film through a psychoanalytic lens. Frederick's journey to Transylvania is a journey into his own subconscious. He must confront his repressed "monstrous" heritage—the chaotic, primal urges represented by his grandfather's work—and integrate it with his controlled, scientific ego. The brain transference at the end symbolizes this integration, where Frederick gives some of his intellect to the Monster (his id) and in return, receives some of its potent life force (and, as implied, sexual prowess for his relationship with Inga). The ending, where both Frederick and the Monster find loving partners, represents a complete and healthy psyche.