Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Marathon Man. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Babe Levy, a history graduate student and marathon runner, is dragged into a deadly plot when his secret-agent brother Doc is killed by Christian Szell, a Nazi war criminal who fled to South America with a fortune in diamonds. After being tortured by Szell with dental tools and asked over and over “Is it safe?”, Babe escapes, tracks Szell down in New York and kills him, ending the novel by throwing his gun into the Central Park reservoir.
Quick facts
– Book: Marathon Man by William Goldman
– First published: 1974
– Type: A thriller
– Tone of the ending: Tense
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Babe lives in Manhattan, studying history and running around the reservoir, while trying to clear his late father's name, ruined in the McCarthy era. Doc, whom Babe believes is an oil executive, works for a secret US agency and acts as a courier for Szell. When Szell's brother dies in a car crash, Szell comes to New York to collect the diamonds from a bank deposit box and fears he will be robbed.
What Happens at the End of Marathon Man
Szell kills Doc, who staggers into Babe's apartment and dies. Szell's men kidnap Babe, believing Doc told him something. Szell tortures Babe by drilling into a healthy tooth, repeatedly asking whether it is safe to retrieve the diamonds. Babe, who knows nothing, is rescued by Doc's colleague Janeway, who turns out to be working for himself. Babe escapes by running, using his marathon training. Szell retrieves his diamonds, and in a final confrontation, Babe, armed with his father's old gun, kills Szell. Afterwards, Babe walks to the reservoir and throws the gun into the water.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Doc's double life is revealed.
- Babe survives torture.
- Babe kills Szell.
- Babe throws away the gun.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Babe Levy | Survives |
| Christian Szell | Killed by Babe |
| Doc Levy | Killed by Szell |
| Peter Janeway | Betrays Babe |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows an ordinary man forced to face evil and choosing to leave violence behind.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers remember the dental torture scene as one of the most frightening in thrillers. Goldman also wrote the screenplay for the film.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Revenge. Babe avenges Doc.
Evil. Szell's evil.
Courage. Babe's endurance.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Marathon Man as tense. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected William Goldman 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 tense will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how William Goldman 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.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 1976 film with Dustin Hoffman and Laurence Olivier ends with Szell falling on his own blade at a water-treatment plant.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Marathon Man 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 revenge, and do you agree with William Goldman'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 tense, 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 revenge 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 William Goldman 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 Marathon Man often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Marathon Man 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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Books to Read After Marathon Man
- The Princess Bride by William Goldman
- The Boys from Brazil by Ira Levin
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Marathon Man?
Babe Levy, a history graduate student and marathon runner, is dragged into a deadly plot when his secret-agent brother Doc is killed by Christian Szell, a Nazi war criminal who fled to South America with a fortune in diamonds. After being tortured by Szell with dental tools and asked over and over “Is it safe?”, Babe escapes, tracks Szell down in New York and kills him, ending the novel by throwing his gun into the Central Park reservoir.
Is the ending of Marathon Man happy or sad?
Most readers call it tense.
What does the ending of Marathon Man mean?
The ending shows an ordinary man forced to face evil and choosing to leave violence behind.
Is the ending of Marathon Man the same in the adaptation?
The 1976 film with Dustin Hoffman and Laurence Olivier ends with Szell falling on his own blade at a water-treatment plant.
Who wrote Marathon Man and when was it published?
Marathon Man was written by William Goldman and first published in 1974.
Is Marathon Man worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy thrillers. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how William Goldman prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read Marathon Man before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.