Ridley Scott’s Napoleon Ends on a Tragic Note for the French General

Summary

• Napoleon ends with Napoleon’s defeat at the hands of Britain and other European powers in the Battle of Waterloo.
• After his defeat, Napoleon was exiled to the island of St. Helena where he died after six years.

• The final scene in the film features Napoleon’s last moments in St. Helena and his last words symbolize what he held closest to his heart.

Based on the life and times of the titular Napoleon Bonaparte, Ridley Scott’s Napoleon ends on a tragic note, much like the French military leader’s real life.

Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military leader and monarch who rose to prominence after the French Revolution and the eventual decline of monarchy.

As a young leader, Napoleon supported the cause behind the French Revolution. He was against the established monarchy led by Louis XVI and supported the rights of the peasants in bringing down the clergy and the nobility in medieval France.

But what makes Napoleon an interesting historical figure is how his initial actions did not coincide with his deeds after his rise to power. After gaining power, Napoleon declared himself emperor and married an archduchess from Austria, Mary Louise.

Ridley Scott’s Napoleon ends with the Battle of Waterloo, where a coalition of European powers defeated Napoleon. The film ends with Napoleon being exiled for the second time to the island of Saint Helena in the Atlantic Ocean.

1. The Final Scene of Napoleon Explained

In the final scene of Napoleon, we see Napoleon sitting outside his home at St. Helena, watching two young girls pretending to swordfight using sticks.

Although Napoleon tries to explain to the children how important he was in the past, the girls do not take him seriously, and spot lies in his story. Napoleon realizes that time has moved on and he has lost his importance because of his ruthless ambition.

The final moments of the historical drama feature the once legendary emperor slowly passing out, hinting at the debated illness of stomach cancer that led to his death in 1825. He remembers Josephine’s words, which reminded him of his homeland.

2. What happens to Napoleon in St. Helena?

Napoleon was sent into exile for the second time on the South Atlantic island of St. Helena. The leader was completely separated from his wife and son and guarded by English soldiers until his death.

A small group of supporters still believed in him on the island, but it did not make much difference. Napoleon spent the last days of his life under poor living conditions. As per historical records, he wrote a book about Julius Caesar during his time in St. Helena.

The cause of Napoleon’s death is still debatable. As per official records, Napoleon died at the age of 51 due to stomach cancer. However, studies suggest that he was slowly poisoned by arsenic. It is also stated as one of the reasons why his body is preserved so well.

Another reason could be Napoleon’s unintentional exposure to arsenic through other things. The emperor was brought to France after his demise, where he received a state funeral. He was buried in St. Helena.

3. Napoleon’s Last Words Explained

The last words of Napoleon Bonaparte were “France, the army, head of the army, Joséphine.” Napoleon’s last words capture everything that was important to him.

He was devoted to the French army and his country and loved Empress Josephine intensely. The two shared a toxic but intense relationship. Napoleon longed to return to France in his last days and missed Josephine. His last words are a testament to everything that mattered to him in life.

It is also possible that Napoleon regretted his actions in his last days. He mentioned France and its army because he regretted how he handled his power and mistreated France and its people. He also felt guilty about how he treated Josephine. All of this explains why he mentions them in his final words.

4. What happens to Napoleon’s son?

The film reveals that Napoleon had a son, Napoleon Francis Joseph Charles, born to Archduchess Marie Louise. Popularly known as Napoleon II, the emperor’s son was never able to establish himself as Napoleon’s true successor.

Napoleon II was born to Napoleon’s second wife, Marie Louise after he ended his marriage with Josephine because the latter could not bear him a son. In the film, Napoleon’s son only appears once as a baby but is never seen again.

Historically, Napoleon II ruled briefly in 1815, but neither he nor his mother accompanied him to his exile. He spent much of his life in Austria, where he died at the age of 21 due to tuberculosis.

Napoleon II’s life is tragic yet ironic, given that Napoleon only married Marie Louise so she could give him a successor. But his son does not live long enough to succeed his father.

5. About Napoleon

Napoleon is an epic historical drama film directed and produced by Ridley Scott and written by David Scarpa. It stars Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon and depicts the French leader’s rise to power and his relationship with his wife.

The film released by Sony Pictures Releasing on November 22, 2023, before streaming on Apple TV+ at a later date.