INVISIBLE MAN

About the author

the natural opportunity for people to spread rumors,

Herbert George Wells was born in a working class

speculate on mysterious issues, and expand on each

family in 1866. He came from a poor background,

others

stories.

which was unusual for a writer at that time. He won a

scholarship to study science at university. With a firstclass degree in biology, he briefly became a teacher.
His career in the classroom was ended by a sharp
kick in the kidneys from an unhappy pupil, which left
him too unwell to continue teaching. He then lived on

Characters

a small income from journalism and short stories,

until his literary career took off with his first science
fiction novel, The Time Machine, in 1895.

Griffin: The Invisible Man

Wells wrote with tremendous energy throughout his

Mr. & Mrs. Hall: Owner of the inn Coach & Horses

life, producing many science fiction stories, short

Teddy Henfrey: a clock jobber

stories,

The Rev. Mr. Bunting: a vicar in the town of Iping

sociological

and

political

books,

autobiographical novels and histories. He became

Marvel: a local tramp

very successful as a writer, perhaps because his work

Dr. Kemp: a scientist and a former associate of

was both popular and intellectual, and he lived in

Griffin

some style. He married twice and had a reputation as

Dr. Cuss: a physician

a womaniser. He moved in socialist circles and used

Mr. Bobby Jaffers: the village constable

fiction to explore his political ideas. Wells died in

Colonel Adye: the chief of Burdock Police

1946.

Summary

Introduction

On a cold wintery day, a stranger came through the

The Invisible Man is the story of a gifted young

snowfall carrying a black portmanteau in his hand

university student who invented a new formula to

and put up at the inn, Coach

become invisible. He became invisible but made two

stranger was wrapped from head to foot and no one

mistakes. He did not inform anyone about the

could see his face. Mrs. Hall, the owner of the inn

formula and without inventing the reverse process,

thought that the stranger had either met with an

he applied on himself.

accident or had an operation on the face. His bags

He had to face many problems in London as it

and baggage contained only bottles and three note

became difficult for him to get food, clothing and

books. The stranger kept to himself in his room and

shelter. He came to Iping as he wanted to do research

conducted experiments. He wanted to be alone and

to find out the reverse formula. But his strange

undisturbed as he hated being disturbed while at

appearance and odd behavior made the people of

work. His rude and strange behavior made him

Iping suspicious. As his money came to an end, he

unpopular with the villagers and they suspected him

stole from the house of the Vicars.

to be a criminal. There was a theft in the house of

He was cornered many times but he managed to

Buntings at a time when the stranger was not in his

escape by taking off his clothes. He met his fellow

room. Mrs. and Mr. Hall went inside his empty room

scientist Dr. Kemp at Burdock who betrayed him. He

and were surprised to see the bed sheets dancing.

called Dr. Kemp a traitor and tried to kill him. Finally,

The terrified owners chased him out of the inn with

he was killed by the people on the road.

the help of Mr. Jaffers, the village constable.

Setting:

Griffin then met Mr. Marvel, a local tramp to whom he

1.

England

in

the

1890's.

& Horses'. The

confessed that he was invisible. He threatened to kill

him if he betrayed. He returned to Iping with Mr.
Marvel to take his three note books and other

2.

Iping

and

the

surrounding

area

3. Much of the action initially occurs around or in a

couple of pubs and an inn, thus taking advantage of

belongings. Since he had no clothes on, he could not

be seen by anybody.

After travelling a long distance, they came to Burdock

where Mr. Marvel tried to give him a slip by hiding in

the inn, Jolly Cricketers. By this time, the story of

When he takes the potion himself, he endures such

the Invisible Man was in the newspaper and the

pain that he understands why the cat howled so

whole country knew about it. A scuffle ensued in the

much

inn and the Invisible Man was hurt. Unknowingly, an

Nevertheless he has no compassion for the cat, for

injured and bleeding Invisible Man took shelter in the

his father or for any of the people he takes advantage

house of Dr. Kemp, who happened to be his associate

of in the course of trying to survive invisibility. On the

in college.

contrary, he descends from committing atrocities

in

the

process

of

becoming

invisible.

because they are necessary to his survival to

committing them simply because he enjoys doing so.
Griffin told his story to Dr. Kemp. Being a student of
medicine, he was suddenly attracted towards Physics
and function of light. He invented a chemical by

2. This theme of corruption in the absence of social

which he made a piece of wool invisible. He then

law has become a motif that is explored in other

tried it on a cat and then on himself. He did not

literary works. H. G. Well created his story with very

inform anyone about his invention as he feared that

little

somebody else would take the credit of his invention.

development. Other writers, however, have taken the

At first, he thought only of the advantages of being

idea much farther; we are thus blessed with novels

invisible but gradually he found the disadvantages

such as Lord of the Flies, and Heart of Darkness,

too. He needed food, clothing and shelter as the

along with short stories by Poe and Melville.

psychological

elaboration

or

character

weather was changing and snow would settle on his

body. He came to Iping to do research and find out
the reverse process which he had not invented. His
body was like a thin sheet of glass. The food that he
ate could be seen going down his throat until it was
digested. Only the dogs could sense him. He wanted
his three note books from Mr. Marvel. He told Dr.
Kemp that together they could unleash the Reign of
Terror in that small town.

Dr. Kemp did not keep his promise to maintain

secrecy. He had informed Colonel Adye about the
presence of the Invisible Man in his house. Seeing the

Questions based on the

plot,
theme
and
character
Q1. Why did the people of Iping turn hostile
towards the str
anger?

police, Griffin ran out of house calling Kemp a traitor.

A siege was laid in the whole town of Burdock to
catch the Invisible Man under the guidance of Dr.
Kemp. The Invisible Man attacked the house of Dr.
Kemp as he had realized that Dr. Kemp had betrayed
him.

Ans. Griffin aroused the curiosity of the people of

Iping from the very first day. He did not talk to
anyone. He confined himself in the room and talked
to none. His bags contained only bottles. His rude
and unusual behaviour aroused the curiosity of the
people.

In the final chase, the Invisible Man was caught by

the road workers with the help of Dr. Kemp and
beaten to death. After death, Griffin's body became
visible. Mr. Marvel opened an inn with the money that
Griffin had kept with him and named it 'The Invisible
Man'. He also preserved the note books from Dr.
Kemp and the outside world as he hoped that this
would fetch him fortune someday.

Tedd Henfrey who had come to mend the clock was

rudely asked to leave. He warned Mr. Hall that the
stranger could be a criminal in disguise as he had a
suspicious nature. When his bags arrived the dog
came and tore off his bandage. He rushed to his room
to change followed by Mr. Hall who offered to help
but he was pushed out of the room. Suspicion arose
when Dr. Cuss saw his empty sleeve in the place of

Theme: Corruption
of
Morals in the Absence
of Social Restriction

an arm and the people started disliking him. The

Vicar and his wife saw the candlelight in the middle of
the night in their room and their money and gold
vanished away. When Mr. and Mrs. Hall found his
room empty they were attacked by an invisible

1. The narrator uses the Invisible Man to experiment

person and saw the furniture dancing. This infuriated

with the depth to which a person can sink when there

Mrs. Hall as it was her mother's furniture. She

are no social restrictions to suppress his behavior.

thought that the stranger was a spirit. Mr. Hall

When Griffin first kills his father, he excuses it away

brought the police to catch the stranger but the

by saying that the man was a sentimental fool.

invisible man pushed everybody and escaped.

Q2. Describe the meeting between Marvel and

the Invisible Man.

CHAPTER 2. Mr.
Henfreys
Impressions

Teddy
First

Teddy Henfrey, a clock repairman, comes to the inn

for tea. Mrs. Hall asks him to repair the clock in the
Ans. Mr. Marvel was a local tramp. He was sitting

strangers room. Teddy deliberately takes as long as

alone and trying his boots. Suddenly, a voice talked

he

to him. He answered the voice but when he looked

reassembling it for no reason. The stranger finally

around, he found no one. He thought probably he was

gets him to hurry up and leave. Offended, Teddy talks

drunk, so could not see anyone. The Invisible Man

himself into believing that the stranger is someone of

then started throwing flints at him to show that he

a suspicious nature, perhaps even wanted by the

was an ordinary man but invisible who needed food,

police and is wrapped up to conceal his identity.

clothing and shelter like any other man. Marvel felt

Teddy runs into Mr. Hall and warns him about the

his hand, face, and chest and was convinced. The

stranger, informing him that a lot of luggage will be

Invisible Man told Marvel that he had chosen him as

coming. It would seem that the stranger intends to

he wanted his help and would be rewarded. He also

stay

warned him against betrayal. A terrorized Marvel

investigate the stranger, but is put off by the short-

promised to help. Marvel had to do things according

tempered demeanor of his wife.

to the wishes of the Invisible Man. He went to Iping,

As Mr. Huxter chased him, Marvel had to run for his

CHAPTER 3.The Thousand

and One Bottles

life.

1.

entered Griffin's room and stole the three note books.

can

with

awhile.

The

the

Mr.

strangers

clock,

Hall

taking

goes

luggage

home

it

apart

and

intending

arrives

at

the

to

inn.

Numerous crates fill the deliverymans cart, some of

them

containing

bottles

packaged

in

straw.

The story of the Invisible Man was in the papers.

Fearenside, the cartman, owns a dog that starts to

Marvel tried to tell the mariner about the Invisible

growl when the stranger comes down the steps to

Man but was stopped by him. Tired and exhausted,

help with the boxes. The dog jumps for the strangers

he ran for his life with the books of Griffin and the

hand, but misses and sinks his teeth in a pant leg.

money that Griffin had stolen.

The dog tears open the trouser leg, whereupon the

stranger goes quickly back into the inn and to his
room.

At Burdock, Marvel entered the Jolly Cricketer and hid

2. Concerned about the possibility of injury, Mr. Hall

himself in the kitchen but was pulled out. A fight

goes to the strangers room. He gets a glimpse of

ensued between Griffin and the police. Marvel

what seems like a white mottled face before he is

escaped and landed in the police station.

shoved by an unseen force back through the door.

After the death of Griffin, we see Marvel open an inn

The stranger soon reappears at the door, his trousers

called The Invisible Man. The owner of the money

changed, and gives orders for the rest of his luggage.

stolen by Griffin could not be found, so it remained

The stranger unpacks 6 crates of bottles, which he

with Marvel. He is no more a tramp but rich man. He

arranges across the windowsill and all the available

has preserved the note book of Griffin away from the

table and shelf space in the inns parlor-a space he

outside world. He hoped that someday it would fetch

seems to have commandeered for himself.

him a fortune.

3. Mrs. Hall enters later to tend to his needs and

Chapter wise Summary

catches a quick glimpse of him without his glasses.

CHAPTER 1. The Strange

Mans Arrival

His eyes seem hollow; he quickly puts his glasses on.

A stranger arrives in Bramble Hurst railway station.

before entering his rooms. She points out that he

He is bundled from head to foot with only the tip of

could lock his door if he doesnt want to be bothered,

his nose showing. He enters the Coach & Horses Inn

advice that he takes. He then works behind the

and demands a room and a fire. Mrs. Hall, the owner

locked door all afternoon. At one point, Mrs. Hall

prepares a supper for him and offers to take his coat

hears him raving about not being able to go on.

and hat, but he refuses to take them off. When he

She hears a sound like a bottle being broken. Later

finally removes the hat, his entire head is swathed in

she takes him tea and notes the broken glass and a

a bandage. Mrs. Hall thinks he has endured some

stain on the floor. He again tells her to put it on the

accident. She tries to get him to talk about himself,

bill.

but he is taciturn with her, although not particularly

4. Meanwhile Fearenside talks in the beer shop of

rude.

Iping Hangar. Fearenside says that the stranger is a

She starts to complain about the straw on the floor,

but he tells her to put it on the bill and to knock

black

man,

an

assumption

derived

from

the

absence of pink flesh when the trouser leg was

ripped open. When reminded of the pink nose,

themselves over the bottom rail. Then a chair flies

Fearenside claims that the man must therefore be a

toward Mrs. Hall. The legs of the chair are brought to

piebald, or a part white, part black creature.

rest against her back, propelling her out of the room.

CHAPTER
4.
Mr.
Cuss
Interviews the Stranger

The door slams and is locked behind them. The Halls

1.The stranger works diligently in his room until the

is also supposed to be an exorcist. Wadgers is joined

end of April with only occasional skirmishes with Mrs.

by Huxter, and together they ponder the likelihood of

Hall. Whenever she disapproves of anything he does,

witchcraft and contemplate the propriety of breaking

he quiets her with additional payment. He rarely goes

through the door in order to examine the situation

out during the day, but goes out nearly every night,

more closely. However, before they can carry out any

muffled up regardless of the weather.

such action, the door opens and the stranger

2.His identity becomes a topic of speculation in the

emerges, wrapped and bundled as usual. He distracts

town. Mrs. Hall defends him, repeating his own words

them long enough to enter the parlor and slam the

that he is an experimental investigator. The view of

door against them. When Mr. Hall raps on the door

the town is that he is a criminal trying to escape

and demands an explanation, the stranger tells him

justice.

to go to the devil and shut the door after you.

Mr.

Gould,

the

probationary

assistant

decide that the stranger is a spirit.

2.They send for Sandy Wadgers, the blacksmith who

3.Another group of people believe he is a piebald and

CHAPTER 7. The Unveiling

of the Stranger

could make a lot of money if he chose to show

1.The stranger remains locked in the parlor all

himself at the fairs. All agree, however, that due to

morning. He rings his bell for Mrs. Hall several times,

his habits of secrecy, they dislike him. The young

but she does not answer it. About noon, he emerges

men begin to mock his bearing; a song called Bogey

and demands to know why his meals have not been

Man becomes popular and children follow at a

brought to him. Mrs. Hall tells him that his bill has not

distance calling out Bogey Man.

been paid in five days. She refuses to accept the

4.The curiosity of a general practitioner named Cuss

excuse that he is waiting for a remittance. When he

is aroused, and he contrives for an interview. During

produces some money, she refuses it, saying she first

the interview the stranger accidentally removes his

wants to know why he doesnt enter by doorways and

hand from his pocket. Cuss is able to see down the

move about like normal people.

empty sleeve to the elbow. Cuss questions him about

2.For his answer, the stranger removes all his head

moving an empty sleeve. The stranger laughs, then

wrappings, including his nose and moustache. He

extends the empty sleeve toward Cusss face and

thus looks like a person with a missing head. At the

pinches his nose. Cuss leaves in terror and tells his

sound of screams a crowd of people run toward the

story to Bunting, the vicar.

inn.

CHAPTER 5. The Burglary

and the Vicarage

stories of the man attacking the servant girl, and

Mrs. Bunting, the vicars wife, wakes up at the sound

3.The stranger slaps Jaffers with his glove, but then

of bare feet walking through her house. She wakes

says he will surrender. He will not accept handcuffs,

her husband and the two watch and listen as a

however. As the constable, Halls and others watch,

candle is lit and papers are rustled in the study. When

the man removes the rest of his clothes, becoming

they hear the telltale clink of money, Rev. Bunting

invisible before them. He tells them that he is

rushes into the study with a raised poker, but the

invisible. Jaffers wants to take him in for questioning

room appears to be empty. Their money disappears

on suspicion of robbing the Bunting home. A scuffle

and at one point they hear a sneeze in the hallway

ensues,

but are unable to locate or see the intruder.

Invisible Man, escapes.

imagines that the man must be an anarchist who is

preparing explosives.

CHAPTER 6. The Furniture

that Went Mad

Eye-witnesses

brandishing

knife.

suddenly
Bobby

babble

Jaffers,

hysterical

the

village

constable, appears with a warrant.

and

the

stranger,

now

known

as

the

CHAPTER 8. In Transit
An amateur naturalist named Gibbins is relaxing out

1.The Halls arise very early in the morning on Whit-

on the downs and hears someone coughing, sneezing

Monday in order to take care of some private

and swearing. Frightened, Gibbins gets up and runs

business having something to do with their wine

home.

cellar. In passing by the guests room, Mr. Hall notices

that the door is ajar. A few minutes later, he sees that
the bolts on the front door of the house are unlocked
although

he

remembers

shutting

them

on

the

previous night. The guest is not in his room, but his

clothes, shoes, and even his hat are scattered about.
As the Halls are investigating,

the bed-clothes

suddenly gather themselves into a bundle and toss

CHAPTER 9. Mr. Thomas

Marvel
1.Marvel is an eccentric bachelor and local tramp
who likes to be comfortable and take his time about
things. He has come across a pair of boots in a ditch.
He has tried them on and found them too big, and is
occupied in contemplating the boots when he hears a

voice nearby. Marvel talks about boots with the voice

2.Several other individuals are shoved aside or sent

for several minutes before turning to see his visitor

sprawling in the streets. Mr. Cuss calls for help, telling

and finding no one there.

people that the Man has all of the vicars clothes.

2.First Marvel tells himself that he has had too much

After breaking all the windows in the Coach & Horses

to drink, then that his imagination has played some

and thrusting a chair through the parlor window of

sort of trick on him. The Invisible Man begins

another citizens house, the Invisible Man disappears

throwing things at Marvel to convince him that he is

from Iping.

not just imagining the presence. Eventually the Man

shelter. He delivers an unfinished threat of what he

CHAPTER 13. Mr. Marvel

discusses
His
Resignation

will do if Marvel betrays him.

Mr. Marvel, propelled by the unrelenting shoulder grip

convinces Marvel that he is real and is in need of an

accomplice who will first give him food, water and

CHAPTER 10. Mr. Marvels

Visit to Iping
1.Iping has nearly recovered its earlier holiday
atmosphere. As only a few people had actually made
contact with the Invisible Man, the general population

and vocal threats of the Invisible Man, arrives in

Bramblehurst. Marvel tries to reason his way out of
the situation to no avail. The Invisible man needs a
normal person to carry his books and is determined
to make use of the fat, red-faced little man.

is soon able to reason him away as some trick of an

CHAPTER 14. At Port Stowe

overactive, holiday imagination.

1.Marvel arrives in Port Stowe and is seen resting on

2.Around 4:00, Mr. Marvel enters town and is

a bench outside of town. He has the books with him,

observed by Huxter to behave rather strangely. He

but the bundle of clothing has been abandoned in the

makes his way down the street almost reluctantly. He

woods. As he sits there, an elderly mariner, carrying

stops at the foot of the steps to the Coach & Horses

a newspaper, sits down beside him. Citing the paper,

and seems to undergo a great struggle before finally

the mariner brings up the topic of an Invisible man.

entering.

re-emerges,

2.According to the newspaper, the man afflicted

apparently having had a drink, and walks as if he is

injuries on the constable at Iping. Certain evidence

trying to act nonchalant. Soon he disappears into the

indicates that he took the road to Port Stowe. The

yard and re-emerges with a bundle wrapped in a

mariner ponders the strange things such a man

tablecloth. Huxter thinks some robbery has taken

might be able to do-trespass, rob or even slip through

place and tries to follow Marvel when he is tripped in

a cordon of policeman.

a mysterious fashion and sent sprawling.

3. Marvel begins to confide in the mariner, saying he

CHAPTER 11. In the Coach

& Horses

knows some things about this Invisible Man. Suddenly

1.The narrator backtracks to explain what happened

that the Invisible Man is a hoax. Marvel begins to

inside the Coach & Horses. Mr. Cuss and Mr. Bunting

move off, walking sideways with violent forward jerks.

were in the parlor going through the belongings of

4.Later the mariner hears another fantastic story-that

the Invisible Man. Three large books labeled Diary

of money floating along a wall in butterfly fashion.

are written in a cipher

The

few

minutes

later,

he

or code they do not

Marvel is interrupted by an attack of some kind of

pain. He says it is a toothache, then goes on to say

story

is

true,

however.

All

about

the

understand.

neighborhood, money has been making off by the

2.Suddenly the inn door opens and Mr. Marvel enters.

handful and depositing itself in the pockets of Mr.

They disregard him and begin studying the books

Marvel.

again when an unseen force grabs each of them by

table between questions about what they are doing

CHAPTER 15. The Man Who

Was Running

with his things. The man demands his belongings,

Dr. Kemp happens to be day-dreaming out his window

saying he wants his books and some clothes.

when he spots a short, fat man running down the hill

CHAPTER 12. The Invisible

Man Loses His Temper

as fast as he can go. The doctor notices that the man

1.Mr. Hall and Teddy Henfrey are involved in a

on the street who see him approaching react a bit

discussion behind the hotel bar when they hear a

differently. The running man is Marvel; his expression

thump on the parlor door. They hear strange sounds

is one of terror. A short distance behind him, people

as of things being thrown against the door and some

hear the sound of panting and a pad like hurrying

bizarre conversation. Doors open and shut and they

bare feet. Soon cries of The Invisible Man is coming

see Marvel taking off with Huxter trying to follow him.

are heard in the streets along with the slamming of

Suddenly Huxter executes a complicated leap in the

doors as people bolt into their houses.

air. Seconds later, Hall lands on the ground as if he

CHAPTER 16. In the Jolly

Cricketers

the neck and begins pounding their heads on the

had been attacked by a football player.

is running heavy as if his pockets are full of lead.

Kemps reaction is one of contempt, but the people

1.The Jolly Cricketers is a tavern. The barkeep, a

his housekeeper for all available papers and reads

cabman, an American and an off duty policeman are

those as well. The papers contain

engaged in idle chat when marvel bursts through the

3.stories of the previous evenings events at the

door. Marvel begs for help, claiming the Invisible Man

Cricketers along with a rather badly written account

is after him.

of Marvels experience. Marvel doesnt tell how he

2.A pounding begins at the door and then a window is

came upon the money in his pockets, nor does he

broken

come in

mention the location of the three books. Kemp

immediately, however. The barman checks the other

becomes alarmed at the possibilities of what Griffin

doors, but by the time he realizes the yard door is

could do and writes a note to Colonel Adye at Port

open, the Invisible Man is already inside. Marvel, who

Burdock.

is hiding behind the bar, is caught and dragged into

invisible wrist of the hand that holds onto Marvel, but

CHAPTER 19. Certain First

Principles

is abruptly hit in the face.

Griffin explains how he became invisible. He had

3.People stumble over and into each other as all try

been a medical student, but had dropped medicine

to catch the Invisible Man. He yelps when the

and taken up physics. He discovered a formula of

policeman steps on his foot, then flails wildly about

pigments that lowers the refractive index of a

with his Invisible fists and finally gives them the slip.

substance, allowing light to pass through it rather

The American fires five cartridges from his gun,

than being reflected or refracted. After experimenting

sweeping his gun in a circular pattern as he fires. The

with pigments for three years, he came upon the

chapter ends with the men feeling around for an

secret whereby animal tissue could be rendered

invisible body.

transparent. He was continuously trying to hide his

in.

The Invisible

Man doesnt

the kitchen. The policeman rushes in and grips the

CHAPTER
17.
Kemps Visitor

Doctor

work from another professor. He was finally brought

to a halt in his experimenting by a lack of funds, a
problem he solved by robbing his own father.

1.Doctor Kemp is still working in his study when he

Because the money did not belong to him, his father

hears the shots fired in the Cricketers. He opens his

shot himself.

window and watches the crowd at the bottom of the

desk. A few minutes later, he hears his doorbell ring,

CHAPTER 20. At the House

in Great Portland Street

but his housekeeper says it was only a runaway

1.Griffin explains how he had found lodging in a

ring.

boarding house on Great Portland Street. After his

2.The doctor is at his work until 2 AM when he

fathers funeral, he went to his apartment to continue

decides to go downstairs for a drink. On the way he

with his experiments. He successfully made a piece

notices a spot of drying blood on his linoleum floor.

of cloth disappear, then he tried his process on a

Then he finds more blood on the doorknob of his own

stray cat. The cat was not entirely successful, as the

bedroom. In his room, his bedspread is smeared with

animals

blood,

disappeared.

hill for a few minutes, then returns to his writing

his

sheet

is

torn,

and

bedclothes

are

eyes

and

claws

never

completely

depressed as if someone has been sitting there.

2.Later the next day he had a minor altercation with

3.The Invisible Man introduces himself to Kemp. He is

the landlord who brought reports of Griffin tormenting

Griffin, of University College. He explains that he

a cat in the night. The landlord wanted to know what

made

Griffin was doing in the room and what all the

himself

Invisible,

but

is

wounded

and

desperately in need of shelter, clothes and food.

paraphernalia was for. The two argued and Griffin

4.Kemp loans him a dressing gown along with some

shoved the landlord out of the room. Griffin knew he

drawers, socks and slippers. Griffin eats everything

would have to act quickly, so he made arrangements

Kemp can rustle up and finally asks for a cigar. He

to have his belongings stored, then he drank some of

promises to tell Kemp the story of his bizarre

his own potion. In the evening the landlord returned

situation but insists that he must sleep first as he has

with an ejection notice, but was too terrified at the

had no sleep in nearly three days.

stone white face of Griffin to serve it. In spite of

CHAPTER 18. The Invisible

man Sleeps

extreme

1.Griffin examines the windows of the room, then

elderly neighbor lady who had complained about the

exacts a promise from Kemp that he will not be

cat enter Griffins apartment and are astonished to

betrayed in his sleep and finally locks the door,

see no one. A day later, afraid, lest his equipment

barring Kemp from his own room.

reveal too much information, Griffin smashes the

illness

and

pain,

Griffin

finished

his

treatment and watched himself gradually disappear.

3.In the morning, the landlord, his stepsons and the

2.Kemp retires to his dining room to speculate upon

items and sets fire to the house. Believing that he

the

days

has covered his tracks with impunity, he begins to

newspaper, which he had ignored earlier. He reads it

imagine all sorts of wild and wonderful things he

eagerly, but assigns the more terrifying elements of

will be able to do under the cover of invisibility.

strange

events.

There

he

sees

the

the stores to fabrication. In the morning he sends

CHAPTER 21.
Street

In

Oxford

investigated the noise. Unable to see the source, but

positive someone was in the house, the proprietor
went about locking all the doors in the house and

1.Griffin continues to explain his experiences with

pocketing the keys. In desperation, Griffin struck the

invisibility. He soon discovered that being invisible

old man on the head, then gagged and tied him with

had as many drawbacks as advantages. People ran

a sheet. Then he put together a costume of old

into him and stepped on him. He had to be

clothes, stole all the money he could find and went

continually on guard as to the movements and

out into the street.

positions of others in order to avoid accidental

3.Believing his troubles were over, Griffin went into a

contact. To make matters worse, although people

restaurant and ordered a meal, but soon realized he

could not see him, dogs could detect him with their

couldnt eat it without exposing his invisible face. He

keen sense of smell. As he had to remain naked, he

ordered the lunch and left, telling the proprietor that

was soon uncomfortable. Also, he could not eat, as

he would be back in ten minutes.

food was visible until it was fully assimilated into his

4.Griffin went to another place (which happens to

system.

be the Coach & Horses Inn) and demanded a private

2.At one point, he had run up the steps of a house in

room, explaining that he was badly disfigured. Thus

order to avoid a unit of a marching Salvation Army

he had set himself up at Iping, hoping to find a way

band. While he waited, two youngsters spotted the

to reverse the process of invisibility. Here he was

prints of his bare feet in the mud. Soon a crowd of

finally discovered.

people had gathered to look at the ghost prints. He

back roads to avoid the press. Fortunately for him, his

CHAPTER 24. The Plan that

Failed

escape at that time was aided with the distraction

1.Griffin tells how his original plan, after being

created

discovered by the people of Iping, had been to get his

leapt over the railing and ran through a bunch of

by

conflagration

engulfing

his

former

dwelling.

CHAPTER
22.
Emporium

books and get out of the country, but that plan had

In

the

changed upon meeting Kemp. He thinks that Kemp

can work with him. Together they can set up a reign
of terror to take full advantage of the Invisibility.

1.Griffin explains his first attempts to get clothing

Griffin does not realize that Kemp has already

and render his situation more tolerable. He had gone

betrayed him and is only trying to keep him talking

into the Omniums, a large apartment type store

until the police arrive. Kemp stands in front of the

where one could buy everything from groceries to

window to keep Griffin from seeing the police, but

clothing. He made his way to an area of bedsteads

Griffin soon hears them on the stairs and realizes he

and mattresses, hoping that once the store closed for

has been deceived.

the night, he would be able to sleep on the

2.Griffin quickly begins to disrobe even as Kemp

mattresses and steal some clothes with which to

springs to the door and attempts to lock him in. A

mask his condition.

dropped key spoils the effort as the now invisible

2.In the night he procured a complete set of clothes

Griffin shoves him aside, then hurls his weight at

for himself, helped himself to food in a refreshment

Colonel Adye, the chief of the Burdock Police who is

department, and then slept in a pile of down quilts.

approaching on the stairs. Griffin escapes past two

He failed to awaken before the morning crew had

more policemen in the hall; they hear the front door

entered, however, and was unable to escape as long

of the house slam violently.

as they could see him. Thus he was forced to shed

CHAPTER 25. The Hunting

of the Invisible man

the clothing and run, naked, back out into the cold.

CHAPTER 23. In Drury Lane

1.Griffins peril increased daily. He had no clothes or
shelter and dared not eat. Also, he soon realized that
walking through the streets of London was going to
result in an accumulation of dirt on his skin- which
would make him visible in a grotesque way.
2.He made his way into a costume shop, hoping to
make way with some clothes and dark glasses after
the proprietor had gone to bed. In the shopkeepers
room, he had to stand and watch the man eat his
breakfast. Furthermore, the man had exceptionally
acute hearing and nearly discovered Griffin several
times. When evening came, he was finally able to
explore the house and found a pile of old clothes. In
his excitement, he forgot about the noise he was
making and was nearly caught when the shopkeeper

Kemp explains the situation to the police, informing

them

of

Griffins

intentions

to

cause

general

mayhem. They talk of using dogs to sniff him out and

of putting powdered glass in the streets.

CHAPTER
26.
Wicksteed Murder

The

By 2:00 in the afternoon, the entire countryside

around Burdock has been mobilized. Men set out with
guns, clubs and dogs, and the police warn the village
people to lock their doors and stay inside. Griffin
manages to evade his pursuers for a 24-hour period
except for one encounter with a middle-aged man
who had apparently cornered him. Griffin kills the
man by beating him with an iron rod.

CHAPTER 27. The Siege of

Kemps House

3. He may not have had any intention initially of

1.Kemp receives a letter telling him that the Reign of

cover his work and remove himself from further

Terror is beginning and that Kemp himself will be the

confrontation. The evil that he could commit does not

first execution for the sake of an example. Kemp

occur to him until after he has swallowed the potion

decides that he himself will be the bait and that

and seen the reaction of the landlord and others.

trying the potion on himself, but the interference of

his landlord and prying neighbor lady motivate him to

Griffin will be caught because he will have gone too

far. A knock at the door turns out to be Adye with
news that Kemps housekeeper-who was carrying
notes for the police-had been attacked and the notes
taken from her.
2.Griffin makes his presence known by smashing
windows in Kemps house. During the battle that
follows, Adye is shot. Griffin gets inside the house
and tries to tell the police to stand away as he is
after only Kemp. He swings an ax at them, but one of
them manages to strike him with an iron poker. By
this time Kemp has followed his housekeeper through
a window and is nowhere to be found.

CHAPTER 28. The Hunter

Hunted

4. The irony is, that his invisibility is good only for

approaching unseen and for getting away. Any gains
from his crimes are useless to him. He cannot enjoy
any of the normal comforts of life-such as food,
clothes, and money. He cannot eat without hiding the
action, as the food in his system will render him
visible. Clothes, when he is able to wear them, must
be used to cover him from head to foot in order to
conceal his real concealment--hardly a comfortable
state in the heat of the summer. He can steal money,
but cannot spend it on his own accord. Thus the
condition that would make him invulnerable also
renders

him

helpless.

Griffin chases Kemp through the town. People begin

to join in the chase. When Kemp realizes that the
people are chasing Griffin, he stops running, which

5. In spite of his predicament, Griffin at no time

allows the Invisible Man to catch him. Even though

expresses any remorse for his behavior or for the

people cannot see him, they are able to grab hold of

crimes, which he merely describes as necessary.

him and keep him down. The effort is not needed for

His only regret is frustration over not having thought

long as Griffin has been fatally injured and seems to

about the drawbacks of invisibility. For nearly a year,

have lost a lot of blood. As the town people watch,

he works on trying to perfect an antidote; when time

the effect of invisibility is gradually reversed, and

runs out for that activity, he first tries to leave the

soon,

country, and then, that plan failing, tries to find an

Griffin,

now

dead,

is

visible.

accomplice for himself so he can enjoy his invisibility

Character Analysis
Griffin

and have all the comforts of life as well. He goes from

1. He is an albino college student who had changed

Thomas

obsession

his area of study from medicine to physics and had

to

fanaticism

to

insanity.

Marvel

become interested in refractive indexes of tissue.

During his studies he stumbled across formulas that
would render tissue invisible. Eventually he tries the

Mr. Marvel is the local tramp. He is harmless,

formula on himself, thinking of all the things he could

eccentric, fat, but not nearly as stupid as Griffin

do

the

thinks he is. He is smart enough to know when a

the

good thing has happened to him; the stories he tells

disadvantages; Griffin turns to crime as a means of

to the press bring him much attention and sympathy.

survival.

In the end, he gets to keep all the money Griffin stole,

if

he

conveniences

were

invisible.

are

far

Unfortunately,

outweighed

by

and he contrives on his own to keep the books of

Griffins experiments. He becomes the owner of an
2. Griffin is the model of science without humanity.

inn as well as the village bard, as it is to him that

He becomes so obsessed with his experiments that

people come when they want to know the stories of

he hides his work lest anyone else should receive

the Invisible Man. In spite of his earlier torment, he is

credit. When he runs out of money, he kills his own

the only one who actually benefits from Griffins

father - a crime that makes the rest of his crimes pale

presence.

in comparison. He goes from scientist to fanatic when

Dr. Kemp

he begins to focus all of his attention merely on the

A former associate of Griffins in his college days.

concept of invisibility and neglects to think about the

consequences

of

such

condition.

Griffin had been a student and knew Kemp to be

interested in bizarre, and idiosyncratic aspects of
science. Kemp is referred to as the doctor, but his
degree seems to be an academic one rather than a

medical one. He continues his own study in hopes of

starts the stories of Griffin being either a black man

being admitted to the Royal Fellows. His own

or a piebald.

experiments and fascination with science enable him

Dr. Cuss

to listen sensibly to Griffin, but in spite of being

rather

contemptuous

of his fellow citizens, his

common sense and decency prevent him from being

a part of Griffins schemes. Kemp is also the only
cool headed person in the town once the final
attack begins. He runs to escape Griffin, but as soon
as Griffin catches him, he has the presence of mind

A general practitioner who attempts to get an

interview with Griffin. He is the first to realize he
actually see emptiness where there should be flesh
and bone. He also tells an outrageous story to his
companions in town after Griffin terrifies him by
pinching his nose with an invisible hand.

to turn the capture around. He is also the first to

Colonel Adye

realize that even though Griffin is invisible, he is

Col. Adye is the chief of Police in the town of Port

injured, and, ultimately, dead.

Burdock. He is called upon by Dr. Kemp when the

Janny Hall

Invisible Man turns up in Kemp's house. Adye saves

Janny Hall is the wife of Mr. Hall and the owner of the
Coach and Horses Inn. A very friendly, down-to-earth
woman who enjoys socializing with her guests, Mrs.
Hall is continually frustrated by the mysterious
Griffin's refusal to talk with her, and his repeated
temper tantrums.

George Hall

Kemp from the Invisible Man's first attempt on his life

and leads the hunt for the unseen fugitive. He mostly
follows Kemp's suggestions in planning the campaign
against the Invisible Man. He is eventually shot by
the Invisible Man. Upon being shot, Adye is described
as falling down and not getting back up. However, he
is mentioned in the epilogue as being one of those
who had questioned Thomas Marvel about the

George Hall is the husband of Mrs. Hall and helps her

whereabouts of the Invisible Man's notebooks, and is

run the Coach and Horses Inn. He is the first person

never made clear whether this occurred prior to his

in Iping to suspect that the mysterious Griffin is

being shot, or if it occurred afterwards and Adye

invisible: when a dog bites him and tears his glove,

survived.

Griffin retreats to his room and Hall follows to see if

J.A. Jaffers

he is all right, only to see Griffin without his glove and

handless (or so it appears to Hall).

Teddy Henfrey

J.A. Jaffers is a constable or "bobby" in the town of

Iping. He is called upon by Mr. Hall and Mrs. Hall to
arrest Griffin after they suspect him of robbing the

A clock repairman who happens to visit the inn for a

cup of tea. Mrs. Hall takes advantage of him to try to
find out about her strange guest. Because the
stranger will not talk, Teddy convinces himself that
the man is someone of a suspicious nature. Teddy
begins the rumors about the man being wanted by
the police and merely wrapping himself up to conceal
his
identity.

Reverend Bunting. He overcomes his shock at the

Fearenside

The next evening Bunting and his wife hear noise in

A cartman who delivers luggage from the station

able to hear someone sneeze, and their money

whenever he is needed. He notices darkness through

disappears right before their eyes.

a torn pant leg where there should be pink flesh and

discovery

that

Griffin

was

invisible

quickly,

determined to arrest him in spite of this. The Invisible

Man knocks him unconscious in his flight from Iping.

Mr. And Mrs. Bunting

Bunting is the vicar. Cuss takes his story to Bunting.
their house after they have gone to bed. They are