In Frozen 2, Elsa dies and comes back to life, revealing not only is she the fifth spirit - alongside water, earth, air, and fire - but is immortal.
With Frozen 2 digging into her origins and putting her through a transformation, Elsa is now immortal, taking her place as more of a spirit than a person. While the original Frozen left Elsa’s origin as simply “she was born with magical ice powers”, the sequel dove much deeper into the mythology and history of not only the character, but the Kingdom of Arendelle and beyond.
From their early days, Anna and Elsa knew about the four spirits, the usual elements of earth, fire, water, and air. Through Frozen 2’s adventure into Northuldra, however, they find that there’s a fifth spirit to unite (and command) the other four. Their mother and father, by uniting Northuldra and Arendelle, respectively, were gifted Elsa, a daughter with magical abilities. Not only that, but the movie reveals Elsa is the fifth spirit herself.
This makes her far more than just another person, and her transformation in Frozen 2 suggests that what makes her different isn’t just symbolic, but that she’s actually an immortal spirit - after all, earth, fire, water, and air could all be considered 'immortal', so it makes sense that the fifth spirit, i.e. Elsa, is too. Elsa’s transformation happens in Ahtohallan, where she’s overcome literally and metaphorically by discovering the secrets of the past.
While discovering the truth about Arendelle’s history with Northuldra during the song “Show Yourself” Elsa changes her appearance before being frozen over completely. Elsa is famously not bothered by the cold, but this is something different. It’s clear just how much so by Olaf: Elsa’s magic has kept Olaf alive so far, but now he fades away.
This leaves Anna to solve things by destroying the Northuldra dam all on her own.
When the dam is destroyed, Elsa thaws out and has clearly been changed in some way. While she’s always been powerful, she’s able to stop the flood threatening to take out Arendelle without much difficulty. She barely gets there in time with the help of the water spirit, but using her ice to stop the water seems almost easy for her. When she next sees her sister, Anna immediately points out how different Elsa is now.
While Frozen 2 doesn’t spell it out, the symbolism is clear. Elsa died and was reborn in Ahtohallan, coming back more powerful than she was before. The reveal that she’s the fifth spirit doesn’t just mean she’s a more powerful magic user than before.
She died and was reborn to take on her true form like has happened in so many stories before. With that transformation, Frozen 2 has made Elsa an immortal spirit now. Like how Frozen 2's other four spirits appear as animals but more than just that, Elsa still appears human but is more than just that. Elsa hasn’t lost her humanity, but she’s so much more than just a person.
As a passionate enthusiast with a profound understanding of the Frozen franchise, particularly Frozen 2, I can confidently assert that Elsa's transformation into an immortal spirit is a pivotal and well-explored theme in the movie. The evidence supporting this assertion lies in the intricate narrative and symbolism embedded in the storyline.
The movie delves into the mythology and history of not only Elsa's character but also the Kingdom of Arendelle and beyond. From the early days of Anna and Elsa, they were aware of the existence of the four spirits representing the classical elements of earth, fire, water, and air. However, Frozen 2 takes the audience on an adventure into Northuldra, revealing the existence of a fifth spirit that unites and commands the other four.
Elsa's parents, by uniting Northuldra and Arendelle, were gifted with Elsa, a daughter possessing magical abilities. The revelation that Elsa is the fifth spirit herself transforms her from being just another person into something far more profound—an immortal spirit. The movie goes beyond the simplistic origin story of Elsa having magical ice powers from birth, providing a deeper exploration of her purpose and connection to the elemental spirits.
Elsa's transformation occurs in Ahtohallan, a mystical place where she discovers the secrets of the past. During the emotionally charged song "Show Yourself," Elsa undergoes a profound change in both appearance and essence. She is frozen over completely, symbolizing a death and rebirth. This transformation is not just symbolic; it signifies her evolution into an immortal spirit.
The symbolism becomes even more evident when Elsa, who has always been impervious to the cold, experiences a change that is distinct from her usual abilities. Olaf, kept alive by Elsa's magic, fades away, emphasizing the profound nature of Elsa's transformation. Anna, left to confront the challenges alone, ultimately destroys the Northuldra dam.
When the dam is destroyed, Elsa thaws out and exhibits a newfound power. Her ability to effortlessly stop the flood threatening Arendelle showcases her heightened capabilities. The movie implies that Elsa's death and rebirth in Ahtohallan were not merely metaphorical but a literal transformation, making her more powerful and immortal.
While Frozen 2 doesn't explicitly state Elsa's newfound status as an immortal spirit, the symbolism is clear. Elsa died and was reborn, taking on her true form—a theme recurrent in many mythologies and stories. The movie subtly communicates that Elsa is now more than just a person; she is an immortal spirit with powers that transcend human limitations.
In essence, Frozen 2 has elevated Elsa from a character with magical abilities to an immortal spirit, reinforcing her connection to the elemental forces and distinguishing her as a unique and powerful entity in the Frozen universe.
