Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The Invisible Man. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Griffin, the scientist who made himself invisible and became violent, is cornered and beaten to death by a crowd in Port Burdock. As he dies, his body slowly becomes visible again, revealing a young albino man, and the tramp Marvel secretly keeps Griffin's notebooks, unable to understand them.
Quick facts
– Book: The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
– First published: 1897
– Type: A science fiction novel
– Tone of the ending: Dark
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
A stranger wrapped in bandages arrives at an inn in the village of Iping. He is Griffin, who has discovered how to make himself invisible but cannot reverse it. He turns to theft and violence, forces the tramp Thomas Marvel to help him and plans a “reign of terror.”
What Happens at the End of The Invisible Man
Wounded and hunted, Griffin hides in the house of his old classmate Dr. Kemp and tells him the whole story of his experiments. He wants Kemp as a partner in a reign of terror. Kemp secretly sends for the police. Griffin escapes, kills a man and declares that Kemp will die. Kemp uses himself as bait, and the chase ends in the streets of Port Burdock, where workmen and townspeople pile onto the invisible man and beat him. He dies, and his body slowly turns visible. In an epilogue, Marvel, now an innkeeper, keeps the notebooks hidden and studies them at night.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Kemp betrays Griffin.
- The crowd kills him.
- His body becomes visible.
- Marvel keeps the notebooks.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Griffin | Killed by the crowd |
| Dr. Kemp | Survives |
| Thomas Marvel | Keeps the notebooks |
What the Ending Means
The ending warns about science without ethics.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers see Griffin as both villain and victim: a brilliant man who chose cruelty, and an outsider who was poor, ignored and desperate. The final image of the tramp Marvel poring over notebooks he cannot read suggests that the secret, and the danger, might return.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Power. Invisibility corrupts Griffin.
Science. Science without responsibility.
Isolation. Griffin is alone.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The Invisible Man as dark. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected H.G. Wells 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 dark will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how H.G. Wells 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 1933 film ends similarly with Griffin becoming visible as he dies.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The Invisible 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 power, and do you agree with H.G. Wells'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 dark, 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 power 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 H.G. Wells 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 The Invisible Man often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The Invisible 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 The Invisible Man
- The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Related: Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison: Summary and Key Takeaways · The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The Invisible Man?
Griffin, the scientist who made himself invisible and became violent, is cornered and beaten to death by a crowd in Port Burdock. As he dies, his body slowly becomes visible again, revealing a young albino man, and the tramp Marvel secretly keeps Griffin's notebooks, unable to understand them.
Is the ending of The Invisible Man happy or sad?
Most readers call it dark.
What does the ending of The Invisible Man mean?
The ending warns about science without ethics.
Is the ending of The Invisible Man the same in the adaptation?
The 1933 film ends similarly with Griffin becoming visible as he dies.
Who wrote The Invisible Man and when was it published?
The Invisible Man was written by H.G. Wells and first published in 1897.
Is The Invisible Man worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy science fiction novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how H.G. Wells prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read The Invisible Man before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.