The final scene of the hit Paramount+ series 1883, which serves as a prequel to the modern TV drama Yellowstone, features a haunting and symbolic moment with a hummingbird. As the migrant group reaches the Pacific Ocean to complete their arduous journey west, they are beset by tragedy and death. In the closing scene, a hummingbird mysteriously appears and seems to usher Elsa Dutton to the afterlife after she succumbs to an arrow wound. This poetic and mystical ending left many viewers pondering the meaning and significance of the hummingbird in 1883.
What happens in the final scene of 1883?
In the climactic final episode of 1883, Elsa is struck by an arrow during an attack by a Native American war party. As she lays dying from the mortal wound, she sees a vision of her deceased family members appearing on the shore of the Pacific Ocean. They beckon her to join them in the afterlife. As Elsa peacefully passes away, a hummingbird suddenly appears and flies around her. The camera lingers on the hummingbird as it hovers over Elsa’s body, and then her spirit rises from her body and joins her family. The scene fades to black with a final glimpse of the hummingbird, giving a surreal and poignant conclusion to Elsa’s journey.
What does the hummingbird symbolize?
The appearance of the hummingbird takes on a symbolic meaning and significance in the final moments of 1883. Here are some of the ways the hummingbird can be interpreted:
- The hummingbird’s delicacy and diminutive size reflects Elsa’s innocence. She was a young woman taken before her time.
- The hummingbird’s aerobatic flight and ability to hover connects to the theme of spirits rising to the afterlife.
- The hummingbird’s beauty and vibrancy represents Elsa’svivacious spirit.
- Hummingbirds have connotations with joy and wonder, suggesting Elsa is transitioning to a happier place.
- Hummingbirds are associated with resurrection and eternal life in some cultures,symbolic of Elsa’s spiritual journey.
- The rarity of seeing a hummingbird heightens the sense of magic and mystique around Elsa’s death.
In many ways, the hummingbird punctuates the tragedy of Elsa’s death with a sense of consolation, vision, and transcendence. The bird serves as a poetic symbol that there may be beauty and mystery even in our final moments.
How does the hummingbird relate to Elsa’s journey in 1883?
Throughout the season, Elsa Dutton served as the moral compass and beating heart of the migrant expedition. Played by Isabel May, Elsa was a romantic idealist who represented innocence and high ideals. Yet her character also showed courage, perseverance and inner fortitude as she faced the harsh realities of the trail. The hummingbird at the end can therefore be seen as a fitting spiritual guide for Elsa’s departure.
Elsa clung to her love of literature, poetry, and nature’s beauty despite the tragedies and darkness she witnessed. So the hummingbird, an exquisite creature from the natural world, signals the fulfillment of her romantic ideals in death. The hummingbird arriving at the Pacific, the destination that claimed so many lives to reach, concludes Elsa’s heroic coming-of-age story.
The mysticism of the scene also connects to Elsa’s Cheyenne husband, Speaking Rock. He exposed her to Native American culture and spirituality, seen in her premonition vision of her family members. So the hummingbird can represent a bridge between those mystical Native beliefs and her own Western upbringing as she passes on.
How did showrunner Taylor Sheridan describe the meaning of the hummingbird?
1883 creator Taylor Sheridan directly addressed the ending’s symbolism in an interview. He explained:
“I think the hummingbird represented undying love…To me, it was saying that love never dies. Her story will go on forever.”
Sheridan’s insight underscores how the hummingbird embodies the enduring power of love. Even after death parts them, Elsa’s spirit will remain alive through her family’s memories of her. This speaks to her close relationship with her father, James Dutton, played by Tim McGraw. Her untimely death is devastating, but the hummingbird offers comfort by reminding us love triumphs over loss.
How did the cast explain the significance of the hummingbird?
Isabel May, who played Elsa Dutton, gave her interpretation of the hummingbird’s significance:
“This little hummingbird just kind of appears out of nowhere and is following her to the afterlife. It’s symbolic of so many different things, past cultures and mysticism…I think it’s really beautiful.”
May underscores how the scene encapsulates multiple meanings. The hummingbird weaves together history, cultural beliefs, mysticism, and poetry. This speaks to the way Elsa wove together different worldviews from her Cheyenne husband Speaking Rock and her Western upbringing.
Tim McGraw as James Dutton also highlighted the hummingbird’s multi-layered symbolism:
“It’s that whole idea of undying love but also that connection to the afterlife, to your loved ones that have passed on…I think it just leaves you with a little bit of hope.”
As Elsa’s father, Dutton emphasizes the hummingbird bringing comfort through its spiritual overtones. It reminds us our connection with loved ones endures past death.
Conclusion
The enigmatic and mystical hummingbird at the end of 1883 carries deep symbolic weight. As Elsa Dutton’s final spiritual guide from life to death, it represents ideas like enduring love, the resilience of the spirit, and the mystical bonds that connect us across cultures and lifetimes. The hummingbird’s appearance channels magic, poetry, and emotion from a scene otherwise drenched in tragedy. It will leave an imprint in the minds of viewers, reminding us of the mysteries of mortality and the timeless power of love. Just as Elsa’s journey will never be forgotten, neither will the image of the hummingbird ascending into myth and legend.
| Character | Actor | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Elsa Dutton | Isabel May | Young idealistic daughter of the Dutton family who meets a tragic end. |
| James Dutton | Tim McGraw | Widowed father determined to lead his family to a better future out West. |
| Margaret Dutton | Faith Hill | James’s wife who dies before reaching the West. |
| Shea Brennan | Sam Elliott | Experienced scout guiding the migrant wagon train along the Oregon Trail. |
| Thomas | LaMonica Garrett | Former Pinkerton agent and Shea’s right-hand man on the expedition. |
| Noemi | Gratiela Brancusi | Romantic interest of Shea and cook for the migrant group. |
| Josef | Marc Rissmann | German immigrant traveling with his wife and daughter. |
| Risa | Anna Fiamora | Josef’s devout Catholic wife. |
The table above summarizes some of the key characters from 1883 and the actors who portrayed them. The Dutton family anchors the story, with James Dutton leading the expedition west to find a better home. Experienced frontiersmen like Shea Brennan and Thomas provide guidance and protection. We also follow immigrant families like Josef, Risa and their daughter Greta as they chase the American dream. This ensemble cast brings grit, passion and heart to 1883’s epic pioneer saga.
Here is some additional analysis of 1883’s main characters:
Elsa Dutton
Elsa Dutton emerges as the heart of 1883 through her courage, empathy and hopeful spirit. While naive at first about the harsh trail, she matures profoundly through her relationships with Native Americans like Speaking Rock and the tragedies she endures. Elsa gives voice to 1883’s big themes of manifest destiny, the American dream, and the sacrifices required to settle the West.
James Dutton
James Dutton depicts the archetype of the heroic frontiersman and devoted father braving the unknown for his family’s future. Tim McGraw’s gravitas and inner strength give life to Dutton as an anchor of morality. His agony over losing Elsa underscores the emotional costs behind Western expansion.
Shea Brennan
Shea Brennan represents the grit and experience required to survive on the frontier. Sam Elliott’s world-weary but compassionate performance makes Shea a father figure guiding the emigrants through a harsh reality. His evolving romance with Noemi and adoption of orphan John add texture.
Margaret Dutton
Though Margaret Dutton dies early on, her memory drives the family’s quest in her honor. Flashback scenes reveal Margaret’s courage in the face of illness. Faith Hill brings tenderness and sacrifice to the maternal role through lasting bonds with James and Elsa.
These central characters propel 1883’s narrative while adding nuanced perspectives on expansionism, family, and the price of progress. Their emotional journeys give raw power to the historical epoch unfolding.
How did 1883 approach historical accuracy?
As a Western prequel to the modern drama Yellowstone, 1883 focused more on sweeping fictional drama than factual precision. However, creator Taylor Sheridan remarked on his goal of historical authenticity:
“I want to show people this is what it was like…I want to put people in 1883 and live it with them.”
To achieve this immersive experience, 1883 took care to include period-specific costumes, props, weapons and ways of speaking. The series went to great lengths with its sets, wagons, and locations to recreate the look and feel of the late 19th century American frontier. The characters endure believable trials based on historically accurate dangers and diseases. Key events also hew closely to the actual history of Westward Expansion, such as the challenges of crossing rivers and mountains.
However, 1883 does take creative license and dramatizes certain characters and scenes for maximum emotional impact. Native American tribes would likely have been more wary of settlers. Relationships like Elsa and Speaking Rock probably oversimplify the complexities of that cultural interaction. Events unfold in a compressed timeline, whereas the real Oregon Trail crossing often took up to six months.
So in seeking a balance between historical realism and fictional narrative, 1883 prioritizes cinematic storytelling while keeping the crucial framework rooted in fact. The result aims to capture the essence of the emotion, sacrifice, and promise that marked this chapter in the Western saga.
What storylines might Season 2 of 1883 explore?
After the strong viewer response to Season 1, Paramount+ renewed 1883 for a second season. While details remain limited, Taylor Sheridan confirmed it will center on a new chapter in the Dutton family history. Here are some possible storylines Season 2 could explore with this anthology approach:
- James Dutton establishing his ranch in Montana following the first season’s end.
- More on James’s backstory as a Civil War veteran and former Texas Ranger.
- The next generation of Duttons defending their land from new threats.
- returning side characters like Shea Brennan and Thomas.
- Flashbacks to Margaret Dutton and her life before meeting James.
- Exploring a frontier town and its early settlers.
- Conflicts between Native American tribes and encroaching settlers.
- A new wagon expedition facing different challenges.
Sheridan could take the story in many sweeping, cinematic directions while expanding on the Dutton origin saga. Fans can likely expect high stakes, gritty realism, and lyrical drama as 1883 continues fleshing out this gripping vision of the American West.
Conclusion
1883’s emotional finale will be long remembered for its mystical coda with the hummingbird guiding Elsa Dutton to her death. The rich symbolism around the hummingbird highlights enduring themes of the human spirit’s resilience, the bonds of love and family, and the mystical qualities of the frontier. This haunting image provides a melancholy yet fitting conclusion to Elsa’s coming-of-age journey. The scene captures her innocence and romantic ideals while adding folkloric notes that enhance the Western saga. Heart-rending yet cathartic, the hummingbird’s flight into legend and myth punctuates a seminal chapter in the origin story of the Dutton family.
