Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The Prince of Tides. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Tom Wingo, who came to New York to help his twin sister Savannah after her suicide attempt, finally tells her psychiatrist, Dr. Susan Lowenstein, the family's buried secret: as children, Tom, Savannah and their mother were raped by escaped convicts, and their brother Luke and a tiger killed the men. Tom has an affair with Lowenstein but returns to his wife and daughters in South Carolina, healed.
Quick facts
– Book: The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy
– First published: 1986
– Type: A literary novel
– Tone of the ending: Bittersweet and healing
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Tom, an unemployed teacher and coach, is unhappy. He tells Lowenstein about his South Carolina childhood with an abusive father, a social-climbing mother and his brother Luke, who later died fighting the government.
What Happens at the End of The Prince of Tides
Over a summer of sessions, Tom tells Lowenstein the whole Wingo family history: the cruelty of their shrimper father, the ambitious mother who covered up the family's pain, and the death of their brother Luke, a Vietnam veteran shot by government agents while protesting the seizure of their island home. At last Tom tells the secret he had buried: one night when they were children, three escaped convicts broke into their house and raped Tom, Savannah and their mother. Luke killed the men with help from the family's pet tiger, and their mother made them bury the bodies and never speak of it. Savannah, who blocked the memory, begins to recover once it is spoken. Tom coaches Lowenstein's son Bernard in football, and he and Lowenstein have an affair. But when his wife Sallie asks him to come home, Tom chooses his family. Back in South Carolina, driving home each evening, he whispers Lowenstein's name across the bridge.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- The family secret is revealed.
- Savannah begins to heal.
- Tom returns to his wife.
- Tom remembers Lowenstein.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Tom Wingo | Returns to his family |
| Savannah Wingo | Begins to heal |
| Susan Lowenstein | Tom's lover |
| Luke Wingo | Died earlier |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows healing through truth.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers find the novel overwhelming but powerful, with rich Southern landscapes and violent family secrets. Conroy drew on his own troubled family for many details.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Family. Family secrets.
Trauma. Childhood trauma.
Healing. Telling the truth.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The Prince of Tides as bittersweet and healing. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Pat Conroy 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 bittersweet and healing will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Pat Conroy 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 1991 film with Barbra Streisand follows the ending.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The Prince of Tides 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 family, and do you agree with Pat Conroy'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 bittersweet and healing, 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 family 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 Pat Conroy 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 Prince of Tides often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The Prince of Tides 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 The Prince of Tides on Amazon
Books to Read After The Prince of Tides
- The Great Santini by Pat Conroy
- Ordinary People by Judith Guest
Related: The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The Prince of Tides?
Tom Wingo, who came to New York to help his twin sister Savannah after her suicide attempt, finally tells her psychiatrist, Dr. Susan Lowenstein, the family's buried secret: as children, Tom, Savannah and their mother were raped by escaped convicts, and their brother Luke and a tiger killed the men. Tom has an affair with Lowenstein but returns to his wife and daughters in South Carolina, healed.
Is the ending of The Prince of Tides happy or sad?
Most readers call it bittersweet and healing.
What does the ending of The Prince of Tides mean?
The ending shows healing through truth.
Is the ending of The Prince of Tides the same in the adaptation?
The 1991 film with Barbra Streisand follows the ending.
Who wrote The Prince of Tides and when was it published?
The Prince of Tides was written by Pat Conroy and first published in 1986.
Is The Prince of Tides worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy literary novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Pat Conroy prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read The Prince of Tides before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.