Of all the objects in The Last of Us Part II, none carries more weight than Ellie’s guitar. It is a gift, a language, and — by the final scene — a goodbye.
Spoiler warning: this article discusses the ending of The Last of Us Part II.
Joel’s gift
Music was part of Joel’s life long before the outbreak, and in Part II he passes it on: Joel gives Ellie a guitar and teaches her to play. Music becomes one of the few ways they can talk to each other when words fail.
On the guitar’s headstock, Joel carves a moth. It is a small detail that fans have never stopped talking about — and many see it echoed in the moth of Ellie’s tattoo.
The songs
Music runs through Part II. Joel plays and sings for Ellie in one of the game’s most tender flashbacks. Later, in a Seattle music shop, Ellie picks up a guitar and plays a well-known 1980s pop song for Dina — a rare moment of lightness in a very dark story. The haunting song from the game’s first reveal trailer, sung by Ellie, also became a fan favourite.
For a lot of players, these quiet musical scenes are what they remember most.
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What the final scene means
At the end of Part II, Ellie returns to the farmhouse and tries to play the guitar again. After everything she has been through, she can no longer play the way Joel taught her. She leaves the guitar behind and walks away.
Fans read the scene in different ways: letting go of revenge, letting go of Joel, or accepting what she has lost in order to keep living. Whatever your reading, the guitar is the thread that ties the beginning of their relationship to its end.
Why fans love guitar designs
A guitar is a gentler symbol than a weapon or an emblem. It says this story mattered to me in a way that is about love rather than violence. That is why our guitar designs wrap the instrument in ferns — music and nature, the two things that survive.
- Ellie’s Guitar case — the guitar standing tall, overgrown with ferns.
- Campfire Song case — Ellie sitting, playing, in a sticker style.
- Personalised Guitar case — with “look for [name]”.
Frequently asked questions
What is carved on Ellie’s guitar?
A moth, carved by Joel on the guitar’s headstock.
Who gave Ellie her guitar?
Joel gives Ellie the guitar and teaches her to play, as shown in flashbacks in The Last of Us Part II.
Why does Ellie leave the guitar at the end?
She can no longer play it the way Joel taught her. Many fans see leaving it as Ellie letting go and choosing to move on.
Overgrown is an independent fan studio, not affiliated with Sony Interactive Entertainment, Naughty Dog or HBO.
