The Pirates of Penzance ending explained
Spoiler summary page for informational search intent.
What happens at the end?
As a young child, Frederic had been apprenticed to a pirate by mistake when he should have been apprenticed to a pilot. Now, having reached his 21st year, Frederic's indentures are at last over and he happily leaves the service of the pirates. When Frederic meets the beautiful Mabel, one of the many daughters (or wards in Chancery) of Major-General Stanley, they fall in love and decide to marry. However, complications arise when the pirates decide to marry the rest of the Major-General's daughters, themselves - and Frederic's birthdate turns out to be not all it seems.
Why it matters
The ending resolves the main conflict and sets up the emotional takeaway of the story. As the index grows, this block can be auto-generated with more detailed scene-level commentary.
FAQ
Does this page contain spoilers?
Yes. The explanation summarizes major ending events and interpretation.
Where can I find similar endings and themes?
Check the similar movies page for related tone and narrative structure.