The Princess Bride Ending Explained

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Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The Princess Bride. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.

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Quick answer: Westley, barely recovered from being “mostly dead,” bluffs Prince Humperdinck into surrender, Inigo Montoya kills Count Rugen to avenge his father, and the friends ride away with Buttercup on four white horses. But Goldman's narrator then adds that their escape may not have gone smoothly, suggesting life is not always fair.

Quick facts

– Book: The Princess Bride by William Goldman

– First published: 1973

– Type: A fantasy adventure novel

– Tone of the ending: Joyful and wry

Table of Contents

What Leads Up to the Ending

Buttercup, the most beautiful woman in the world, loves the farm boy Westley, who leaves to seek his fortune and is reported killed by the Dread Pirate Roberts. Years later she is engaged to Prince Humperdinck. She is kidnapped by Vizzini, the giant Fezzik and swordsman Inigo, and rescued by a man in black, who is Westley.

What Happens at the End of The Princess Bride

Humperdinck captures Westley and tortures him in the Zoo of Death, killing him. Inigo and Fezzik take him to Miracle Max, who revives him. They storm the castle as Humperdinck rushes through the wedding. Inigo defeats Count Rugen. Westley threatens Humperdinck with “To the pain,” and leaves him tied up. The friends escape.

The Ending in 4 Quick Points

Westley is revived.
Inigo gets revenge.
Humperdinck is humiliated.
The ending is uncertain.

What Happens to the Main Characters

Character	What happens to them
Westley	Escapes with Buttercup
Buttercup	Escapes with Westley
Inigo Montoya	Avenges his father
Fezzik	Escapes with them
Prince Humperdinck	Left tied up

What the Ending Means

The ending celebrates true love but warns that life isn't fair.

Themes the Ending Brings Together

True love. Westley and Buttercup.

Revenge. Inigo's revenge.

Adventure. The story is fun.

Is the Ending Happy or Sad?

Most readers describe the ending of The Princess Bride as joyful and wry. 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 joyful and wry 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 1987 film ends with the grandfather reading “As you wish” and the happy escape.

Discussion Questions About the Ending

If you are reading The Princess Bride 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 true love, 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 joyful and wry, 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 true love 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 The Princess Bride often return in the final scene with a new meaning.

Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing

Was the ending of The Princess Bride 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 Princess Bride on Amazon

Books to Read After The Princess Bride

Stardust by Neil Gaiman
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens at the end of The Princess Bride?

Westley, barely recovered from being “mostly dead,” bluffs Prince Humperdinck into surrender, Inigo Montoya kills Count Rugen to avenge his father, and the friends ride away with Buttercup on four white horses. But Goldman's narrator then adds that their escape may not have gone smoothly, suggesting life is not always fair.

Is the ending of The Princess Bride happy or sad?

Most readers call it joyful and wry.

What does the ending of The Princess Bride mean?