Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Matilda. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Matilda Wormwood uses her telekinetic powers to scare the cruel headmistress Miss Trunchbull into fleeing the school, and Miss Honey gets back her family home and fortune. When Matilda's crooked parents flee to Spain to escape the police, they let her stay and live happily with Miss Honey.
Quick facts
– Book: Matilda by Roald Dahl
– First published: 1988
– Type: A children's novel
– Tone of the ending: Joyful
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Matilda is a brilliant girl who reads Dickens at four, but her parents ignore and insult her. At Crunchem Hall Primary School, her teacher Miss Honey recognizes her gift, while the headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, terrorizes the children by throwing them and locking them in a spiked cupboard called the Chokey. Matilda discovers that when she is angry, she can move objects with her eyes.
What Happens at the End of Matilda
Matilda learns that Trunchbull is Miss Honey's aunt and that she cheated Miss Honey out of her inheritance after her father's suspicious death. In class, Matilda uses her power to make a piece of chalk write a message on the board, pretending to be Miss Honey's dead father, Magnus, ordering Trunchbull to return the house and money and leave. Trunchbull faints and disappears. Miss Honey moves back into her home. Matilda's father, caught selling stolen cars, flees with the family, and Matilda asks to stay with Miss Honey. Her parents agree without fuss. Matilda's powers fade as her mind is fully challenged in a higher class.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- The chalk message frightens Trunchbull away.
- Miss Honey regains her inheritance.
- Matilda's parents leave her behind willingly.
- Matilda's power disappears once she is challenged.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Matilda Wormwood | Lives with Miss Honey |
| Miss Honey | Gets back her home and fortune |
| Miss Trunchbull | Flees and is never seen again |
| Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood | Escape to Spain |
| Bruce Bogtrotter | Celebrated by his classmates |
What the Ending Means
The ending rewards intelligence and kindness and punishes cruelty. It also shows that family can be chosen, since Matilda finds love with someone who values her.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Some readers find it sad that Matilda's parents give her up so easily. Others see it as Dahl's funny way of saying that children deserve adults who appreciate them.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Justice. Trunchbull and the Wormwoods get what they deserve.
Intelligence. Matilda's mind is her real power.
Chosen family. Miss Honey becomes the parent Matilda needed.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Matilda as joyful. 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 joyful 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.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 1996 film and the 2022 musical film both keep Matilda staying with Miss Honey, with some changes to how Trunchbull is defeated.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Matilda 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 justice, 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 joyful, 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 justice 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 Matilda often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Matilda 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?
Check price of Matilda on Amazon
Books to Read After Matilda
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
- The BFG by Roald Dahl
Related: Matilda by Roald Dahl: Summary and Key Takeaways · 15 Books Like Matilda You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Matilda?
Matilda Wormwood uses her telekinetic powers to scare the cruel headmistress Miss Trunchbull into fleeing the school, and Miss Honey gets back her family home and fortune. When Matilda's crooked parents flee to Spain to escape the police, they let her stay and live happily with Miss Honey.
Is the ending of Matilda happy or sad?
Most readers call it joyful.
What does the ending of Matilda mean?
The ending rewards intelligence and kindness and punishes cruelty.
Is the ending of Matilda the same in the adaptation?
The 1996 film and the 2022 musical film both keep Matilda staying with Miss Honey, with some changes to how Trunchbull is defeated.
Who wrote Matilda and when was it published?
Matilda was written by Roald Dahl and first published in 1988.
Is Matilda 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 Matilda before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.