Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of George's Marvellous Medicine. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: George Kranky brews a crazy “medicine” from everything in the house to deal with his horrible grandmother, which makes her grow through the roof. When his father tries to make more, they can't get the recipe right, and the last batch, “Medicine Number Four,” makes Grandma shrink until she disappears completely.
Quick facts
– Book: George's Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl
– First published: 1981
– Type: A children's novel
– Tone of the ending: Funny
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Eight-year-old George is left alone with his grumpy, nasty grandmother, who orders him around and claims to know magic secrets. George decides to make her a new medicine, mixing shampoo, paint, animal pills and other things.
What Happens at the End of George's Marvellous Medicine
Grandma shoots up through the roof of the farmhouse, her head poking out above the chimney. George tests the leftover medicine on the farm animals, making a giant chicken and a huge pig. His father, Mr. Kranky, is thrilled, imagining farms full of giant animals, and they try to make it again. But George can't remember exactly what he used, so Medicine Number Two makes a chicken with enormously long legs, Number Three makes one with a long neck, and Number Four makes a chicken tiny. Grandma, seeing the cup, drinks Medicine Number Four and shrinks smaller and smaller until she disappears completely. Mrs. Kranky is surprised but not very upset, and George feels he has touched the edge of a magic world.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Grandma grows huge.
- The animals grow.
- The recipe can't be repeated.
- Grandma disappears.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| George Kranky | Makes the medicine |
| Grandma | Disappears |
| Mr. Kranky | Wants to sell the medicine |
What the Ending Means
The ending is a dark joke about getting rid of a bully.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers debate the dark humour, and the book includes a warning at the start telling children not to try making medicines at home. Many still say it is one of Dahl's funniest.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Imagination. George's creativity.
Bullying. Grandma is a bully.
Science. Experiments.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of George's Marvellous Medicine as funny. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Roald Dahl to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are funny will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Roald Dahl closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading George's Marvellous Medicine with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about imagination, and do you agree with Roald Dahl's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as funny, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces imagination and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Roald Dahl leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in George's Marvellous Medicine often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of George's Marvellous Medicine earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
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Related: George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl: Summary and Key Takeaways · What Age Is George’s Marvellous Medicine Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of George's Marvellous Medicine?
George Kranky brews a crazy “medicine” from everything in the house to deal with his horrible grandmother, which makes her grow through the roof. When his father tries to make more, they can't get the recipe right, and the last batch, “Medicine Number Four,” makes Grandma shrink until she disappears completely.
Is the ending of George's Marvellous Medicine happy or sad?
Most readers call it funny.
What does the ending of George's Marvellous Medicine mean?
The ending is a dark joke about getting rid of a bully.
Who wrote George's Marvellous Medicine and when was it published?
George's Marvellous Medicine was written by Roald Dahl and first published in 1981.
Is George's Marvellous Medicine worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy children's novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Roald Dahl prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read George's Marvellous Medicine before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.