Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The War of the Worlds. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: The Martians die from infection by Earth's bacteria, to which they have no immunity, and the invasion ends. The narrator reunites with his wife and reflects on what humanity has learned.
Quick facts
– Book: The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
– First published: 1898
– Type: A science fiction novel
– Tone of the ending: Relieved but sobering
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Martians land in England and use heat rays and tripods to destroy the army. The narrator survives by hiding and traveling across the ruined countryside. Humanity seems on the verge of extinction.
What Happens at the End of The War of the Worlds
The narrator sees a tripod standing still, and then discovers that the Martians are dead. Birds are feeding on their bodies. Their machines have stopped and the invasion is over. The narrator returns to London, finds his wife alive and ends the book thinking that humanity must be more humble.
The Ending in Five Quick Points
- The narrator sees a tripod standing still, and then discovers that the Martians are dead.
- Birds are feeding on their bodies.
- Their machines have stopped and the invasion is over.
- The narrator returns to London, finds his wife alive and ends the book thinking that humanity must be more humble.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| The narrator | Survives and reunites with his wife |
| The Martians | Die of bacteria |
| The curate | Killed earlier by the Martians |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows that the smallest living things can defeat the strongest invaders. It also warns that human power is not guaranteed.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Some readers see the ending as a coincidence, while others read it as an argument about nature and evolution.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Invasion and survival. The final pages are where this idea lands hardest, and rereading the last chapters with invasion and survival in mind changes how the ending reads.
Colonialism. H. G. Wells uses the closing events to show what colonialism costs or achieves, rather than simply stating it.
Nature's balance. The ending gives nature's balance a final shape, which is why readers often point to it when they explain what the book is really about.
Human limits. Even in the last scenes, human limits keeps shaping the choices the characters make.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The War of the Worlds as Relieved but sobering. That reaction 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.
Book Versus Adaptation
The 1953 and 2005 films end the same way, with the Martians killed by bacteria. The 1938 radio drama by Orson Welles made the story famous.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The War of the Worlds 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 invasion and survival, 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?
- After finishing, would you describe the book as relieved but sobering, or would you choose a different word?
Discussion Prompts by Theme
- Invasion and survival: Which moment in the last chapters made invasion and survival feel most real to you, and did it change how you saw earlier scenes?
- Colonialism: How does H. G. Wells use the closing events to say something about colonialism, and do you agree with that view?
- Nature's balance: If you could ask a character about nature's balance at the very end, who would you ask, and what would you say?
- Human limits: Does the ending leave human limits resolved, or is it something that stays unsettled after the last page?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces invasion and survival 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 War of the Worlds often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The War of the Worlds 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?
- Would you recommend The War of the Worlds to a friend who dislikes spoilers, or to one who loves a discussion?
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Books to Read After The War of the Worlds
- The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
- The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
Related: The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells: Summary and Key Takeaways · 15 Books Like The War of the Worlds You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The War of the Worlds?
The Martians die from infection by Earth's bacteria, to which they have no immunity, and the invasion ends. The narrator reunites with his wife and reflects on what humanity has learned.
Is the ending of The War of the Worlds happy or sad?
Most readers call it Relieved but sobering.
What does the ending of The War of the Worlds mean?
The ending shows that the smallest living things can defeat the strongest invaders.
Is the ending of The War of the Worlds the same in the adaptation?
The 1953 and 2005 films end the same way, with the Martians killed by bacteria.
Who should read The War of the Worlds before reading the ending explained?
Anyone who plans to read the book, because this post gives away the whole ending.