CBSE Class 12 English The Invisible Man Summary and Questions

Thomas Marvel was a short, fat tramp who sported a shabby hat and thrived on charity. He was lazy and did not show any intention to work. In the novel, ‘The Invisible Man’, it is evident that anyone and everyone who comes into contact with Griffin suffers in one way or the other. However, Thomas Marvel is the only man, who interacts with Griffin Answers and gains a lot after his death. Originally, Marvel is a good-for-nothing tramp, who drinks a lot and does nothing all day. He is illiterate, homeless and begs for a living. Seeing him to be ideal as a visible companion, Griffin hires Marvel to work for him. But, Marvel gives Griffin the slip and takes his notebooks and money to Port Burdock. When the money goes unclaimed, he is allowed to keep it. Overnight, he becomes rich, opens an inn by the name ‘The Invisible Man’ in Port Stove and earns extra bucks by telling his experience with the invisible man. As for Griffin’s notebooks, Marvel hides them only to look at them occasionally, knowing that they would fetch him good money one day.

Dr. Cuss was the general practitioner living in Iping. Hearing about the stories about the stranger, he became quite curious about bandaged recluse. Dr. Cuss had a professional interest in the stranger’s experiments and work. In his eagerness to interview the stranger, and gain the required information from him, Dr. Cuss met him for the first time at Coach and Horses under the pretext of collecting donation for the Nurse fund. He began asking a series of odd questions regarding his appearance. This made the stranger so furious that he pinched Dr. Cuss strongly on nose with an invisible hand. Dr. Cuss once again faces the wrath of the Invisible Man when he along with Vicar Bunting, goes to examine the stranger’s belongings. They were prying into his private notebooks without his permission. The Invisible Man assaults both Cuss and Bunting, demanding his stuff back. He also asked them both to remove their clothes and hand over to him. Yet again, Dr. Cuss’ encounter with the Invisible Man was a disastrous and embarrassing one.

The first interaction between Mrs. Hall and Griffin at Coach and Horses inn was rather an intense one. When Griffin walked into the inn, he was almost covered in snow, cold and shivering. He appeared “more dead than alive” due to fatigue. Soon after he was provided with a room to stay, thawing warmth from the crackling fire and food by Mrs. Hall, Griffin seemed aloof and mysterious. He did not engage in a conversation with Mrs. Hall and spoke very little, that too abruptly and rudely. He had an unusual appearance. No matter how much he tried to hide his face behind his dark glasses or under his felt hat, it was noticeable that the man’s face (except for his nose) was covered with white bandage. He wanted to be left alone as long as he stayed and kept looking outside the window. His strange behaviour put him under speculation. Mrs. Hall, on the other hand, seemed a pleasing and good natured woman. As an innkeeper, who was not expecting any guests, she was exited to host the mysterious but rich man when he walked into her inn from the cold. She was a smart businesswoman and showed her hospitality by serving Griffin herself. Unlike Griffin, Mrs. Hall was talkative, persistent, friendly and curious. She even felt sympathetic towards the enigmatic Griffin, for she thought he met with an accident. For this reason and that she considered Griffin a “minting machine”, Mrs. Hall gave him a nice and cosy room.

Griffin’s character in ‘The Invisible Man’ can be described as a genius scientist gone astray. He goes through various stages of mental ordeals starting from obsession to fanaticism to greed to insanity. Griffin is so fascinated by the laws of reflection and refraction that he changes his field of study from medicine to Physics. Soon, he becomes obsessed with the idea of invisibility and visibility of objects and eventually develops a possible theory of invisibility. This possible breakthrough makes Griffin even more secretive, he not only hides his research from his professor, Mr. Oliver, but also writes it in Cipher language so that no one is able to read it. The fact that Griffin secretly carries on with vivisection, even though it is illegal, proves that he has no respect for rules or authority. Griffin’s greed and obsession makes a thief out of him. First, he steals from his father, which kills the old Man. Then, once he becomes invisible, Griffin continues to steal items knowing that he will not get caught because no one can see him. A power hungry Griffin loses all sense of humanity and conscience once he succeeds in becoming invisible. Griffin even attempts to strangulate Dr. Kemp when he realises that Dr. Kemp intends to get him arrested. It does not matter to him that Dr. Kemp gave him food and shelter when he needed it the most. It is ironic that being invisible is of no advantage to him except for approaching and getting away unseen. He could get things easily, but not enjoy them. In conclusion, it is suffice to say that Griffin is a man of menace, who proves to be hazardous not only to others but to himself as well.

Mrs. Hall was quite excited when Griffin came to stay at Coach and Horses. It was peak winter time and she felt lucky to have a customer over at her inn. The stranger came in from the cold and once she provided him with fire for warmth, he demanded for a room for which he paid an advance in gold. This excited Mrs. Hall who considered the customer a minting machine, even more. She did not ask for his name and particulars and attended to him all by herself. This she did so that the guest felt well looked after and content. She offered to dry his coat, prepared his lunch and even brought it to him. Although the man seemed strange and distant and rude and offend her by abruptly stopping her attempts to strike a friendly conversation, yet she continued to strike up a dialogue with him.

Thomas Marvel was a short, fat tramp who sported a shabby hat and thrived on charity. He was lazy and did not show any intention to work. In the novel, ‘The Invisible Man’, it is evident that anyone and everyone who comes into contact with Griffin suffers in one way or the other. However, Thomas Marvel is the only man, who interacts with Griffin Answers and gains a lot after his death. Originally, Marvel is a good-for-nothing tramp, who drinks a lot and does nothing all day. He is illiterate, homeless and begs for a living. Seeing him to be ideal as a visible companion, Griffin hires Marvel to work for him. But, Marvel gives Griffin the slip and takes his notebooks and money to Port Burdock. When the money goes unclaimed, he is allowed to keep it. Overnight, he becomes rich, opens an inn by the name ‘The Invisible Man’ in Port Stove and earns extra bucks by telling his experience with the invisible man. As for Griffin’s notebooks, Marvel hides them only to look at them occasionally, knowing that they would fetch him good money one day.

Griffin robbed the Vicar’s house in the early hours of Whit-Monday. Then he took their housekeeping money and left the house as quietly as he had come. Griffin returned to the inn in invisible state. There he noticed Mrs. and Mr. Hall investigating his room. Mr. and Mrs. Hall realised that the stranger had not slept in his bed and that he had disappeared, leaving his clothes behind. Griffin wanted to frighten them away. They were surprised to see the clothes suddenly gathered themselves into bundles and tossed themselves over the bottom rail. The stranger’s hat hopped off the bed post, the chair, with its four legs aimed at Mrs. Hall, flew towards her. The chair hit Mrs. Hall against her back propelling her and Mr. Hall out of the room. The door slammed violently and locked behind them. Mrs. Hall thought that the stranger had put ghost and spirits into her furniture.

Griffin’s character in ‘The Invisible Man’ can be described as a genius scientist gone astray. He goes through various stages of mental ordeals starting from obsession to fanaticism to greed to insanity. Griffin is so fascinated by the laws of reflection and refraction that he changes his field of study from medicine to Physics. Soon, he becomes obsessed with the idea of invisibility and visibility of objects and eventually develops a possible theory of invisibility. This possible breakthrough makes Griffin even more secretive, he not only hides his research from his professor, Mr. Oliver, but also writes it in Cipher language so that no one is able to read it. The fact that Griffin secretly carries on with vivisection, even though it is illegal, proves that he has no respect for rules or authority. Griffin’s greed and obsession makes a thief out of him. First, he steals from his father, which kills the old Man. Then, once he becomes invisible, Griffin continues to steal items knowing that he will not get caught because no one can see him. A power hungry Griffin loses all sense of humanity and conscience once he succeeds in becoming invisible. Griffin even attempts to strangulate Dr. Kemp when he realises that Dr. Kemp intends to get him arrested. It does not matter to him that Dr. Kemp gave him food and shelter when he needed it the most. It is ironic that being invisible is of no advantage to him except for approaching and getting away unseen. He could get things easily, but not enjoy them. In conclusion, it is suffice to say that Griffin is a man of menace, who proves to be hazardous not only to others but to himself as well.

Within a few days of his arrival in spring, on a freezing winter evening, Griffin’s presence created a stir amongst the curious residents of the village. He had walked all the way from Bramblehurst railway station through a biting wind and driving snow. He seemed a wealthy man who took up quarters in the inn without much haggle and paid the advance in gold. However, soon people became suspicious of Griffin because of his appearance and the way he behaved. His face was wrapped up in white bandage including ears and neck. No matter what the weather be, hot or cold, he would be seen wearing a heavy jacket, covered from head to toe. He even wore a hat and blue goggles, which hid most of his face. He preferred to stay indoors, aloof, constantly looking out of the window. He talked to no one but himself and never tried to be friendly with anybody. It was Teddy Henfrey who was first to suspect the strangeness of Griffin. He alerted Mr. Hall saying that the stranger (Griffin) was probably a criminal wanted by the police and he covered his face to conceal his identify. Moreover, when Mr. Fearenside’s dog tore Griffin’s trousers, Mr. Fearenside noticed that the stranger’s legs were black but his nose was pink. Hence, he suspected that the stranger was either black or piebald. Later, when Mr. Hall went to Griffin’s room to check on him, to inquire about any possible injury, he was assaulted by something indecipherable.

Thomas Marvel was a poor homeless, jobless, wanderer who begged for a living. He was a bearded, well-rounded tramp with short limbs and nose of cylindrical protrusion. He wore shabby clothes which were secured with shoelaces instead of buttons. He had an air of abandon and eccentricity about him because of which Griffin thought of him as stupid. Marvel was a drunkard and because he was unwilling to work, he did everything in a leisurely manner. Alternatively, Thomas Marvel was also practical by nature; he made many smart decisions, which eventually benefited him. Even though, he hated the idea of working, he agreed to work for Griffin when he realised that the Invisible Man was more powerful than him. Marvel became the first visible companion of the Invisible Man and at the same time a victim of manipulations. Griffin made him steal food and clothing and arrange for shelter. When he expressed his helplessness to do any work, the Invisible Man threatened to hurt him. The fear of injury made Marvel a puppet in the hands of Griffin/Invisible Man. However, with his smart and practical thinking, he retained Griffin’s scientific notes and the money given to him by Griffin himself and sought protection from the police. When it was not claimed for days, Marvel was allowed to keep the possession. This made him rich overnight. Later, he opened up an inn by the name ‘The Invisible Man’ and earned extra money by telling his experience with the Invisible Man. Therefore, it is suffice to say that Marvel may seem a good-for-nothing at first look, but he knows how to take advantage of a situation. It is only Marvel who is benefitted from association with Griffin.

Griffin was quickly running out of money to pay his bills and carry on with his expenses. The only way to acquire money was to steal. Griffin took advantage of his invisibility and arrived at vicarage to execute his plan. It was four in the morning of Whit-Monday. Rev. Mr. Bunting and his wife were in peaceful slumber. However, Mrs. Bunting suddenly woke up with a strong feeling that the bedroom opened and closed. She heard footsteps along the passage going towards the stairs. She aroused Rev. Mr. Bunting, who went out to listen closely. Quite distinctly, he heard a fumbling sound going around at his study desk and then the sound of a violent sneeze. By now Mr. Bunting, accompanied by his wife and armed with a poker marched towards the study, which was completely dark. Then something snapped, the drawers opened and there was a rustle of papers. Then came the sound, of a match being struck and seconds later there was light in the study. There was a ‘chink’ sound. The Vicar and his wife understood the burglar had found the money. Thinking that he had almost nabbed the thief, Mr. Bunting rushed to the study followed by Mrs. Bunting. However, the study was empty. The candle was burning, the drawers were open, the money was gone, but the burglar was nowhere to be seen. The Vicar and his wife looked everywhere but there was no sign of the thief. Once again, there was a sound of a violent sneeze and quickly enough the kitchen door slammed. Mr. Bunting saw the back door open, stay open for a moment and then shut with a loud noise. Rev. Mr. Bunting and his wife were completely at loss of words, unable to understand or find a logical explanation of the theft at their home.

Mrs. Hall is one of the most memorable characters in ‘The Invisible Man’. She is the inn keeper at ‘Coach and Horses’. Mrs. Hall is a shrewd businesswoman yet, on some instances, she appears to be caring towards her guests. When Griffin first arrived at Coach and Horses, demands for a room and pays good money for it. Mrs. Hall is more than happy to accommodate him. She was not expecting a customer in the peak of winters and that too someone who did not haggle. She wants the guest to feel that the best service is provided by her. She prepared food for the guest, offers to dry his hat and coat. In spite of getting snubbed by the stranger, Mrs. Hall is not irritated. For her, the stranger is a money minting machine. Later, when she see him covered in bandages from head to toe, she feels sorry for him thinking that perhaps he met with a severe accident. Although she seems careless in the beginning, for not enquiring about the stranger, she turns out to be a smart woman later on. It appears that she knows how to get things done. When Griffin is unable to pay his bills for a longtime, Mrs. Hall decides to throw him out. She refuses to send food to his room until the stranger’s previous bills were cleared. She confronts him and they even argue. Depending on the situation, Mrs. Hall is a compassionate, firm (she stands her ground while telling Griffin to use only the door to come in), practical and used to making her decisions.

Griffin and Mrs. Hall were having a heated conversation regarding settling of the pending bills. Griffin said that he would pay her with the money he had found somewhere. This made Mrs. Hall suspicious of him given that there had been news about burglaries going around. She confronted the Invisible Man, Griffin. This infuriated the man, who out of rage said that he would show her. Saying so, Griffin put his open palm over his face and withdraw his pink, shiney fake nose. Then, he removed his dark glasses and everyone gasped. Next, he took off his hat, tore off his whiskers and bandages. This caused a frenzy at the bar. Griffin now appeared as a solid figure up to his coat collar and nothing above that. As Mr. Jaffers came forward to arrest Griffin, he took off his left glove to slap Jaffers on the face; later he took off his right glove as well. Now, Griffin was a strange figure, headless and handless. Gradually Griffin unbuttoned his waist coat, took off his shoes, socks and trousers and kicked them under the table. He then flung off his coat and finally his white shirt, becoming completely invisible.

Dr. Kemp was an academician and a scientist just like Griffin. However, the former is different than the latter in many ways. No doubt, Griffin was brilliant at his work. But, his passion soon turned into an obsession until he became a power hungry monster. He does not want to share his discovery with anyone as he wanted recognition for his work. Griffin was so obsessed with power over other humans that in order to continue his experiment he takes to the path of crime. He is not even remorseful or guilty of his wrong doings. Dr. Kemp is a caring and selfless contrast to Griffin who throughout the novel appears to be manipulative and selfish. When Griffin tells Dr. Kemp about his discovery, and asks him to be his partner in his experiment and research Dr. Kemp stays calm and listens to Griffin. Griffin wants Dr. Kemp to perfect the experiment so that Griffin, along with Dr. Kemp, can create a reign of terror on the human race. Dr. Kemp remains self composed on the outside, but being a law abiding citizen and concerned about the safety of others, decides to inform the police. Dr. Kemp is more intellectual and observant than Griffin so, he tries to warn Griffin about the futility of his behaviour. However, an eccentric scientist, Griffin, is not ready to understand. In his mindless quest for power and control, Griffin loses the human values and respect for rules and law. He kills Colonel Adye and injures Dr. Kemp, vowing to finish him off too. Although Dr. Kemp’s plan to get Griffin arrested fails badly. If it had not been for this well meaning scientist and his humanitarianism, Griffin would have succeeded in his nefarious plans.

The Invisible Man met Thomas Marvel, a local tramp, after the former escaped from the inn. Mr. Marvel was sitting by the roadside all by himself. Griffin, was also there, but being invisible his presence was not known to Mr. Marvel. When the invisible man finally made his voice heard, Mr. Marvel thought that he was imagining it since he was drunk. So, the invisible man started throwing pieces of rocks at him. When Thomas Marvel, realised that he was not alone, the invisible man struck up a conversation with him. Griffin was in dire need of help. He needed someone who would work as a tool for him to meet his requirements. Seeing Mr. Marvel as an outcast, Griffin considered him perfect for the job. He asked Marvel to accompany him and help him to get back his clothes, books and other belongings for which he promised him rewards.

The first interaction between Mrs. Hall and Griffin at Coach and Horses inn was rather an intense one. When Griffin walked into the inn, he was almost covered in snow, cold and shivering. He appeared “more dead than alive” due to fatigue. Soon after he was provided with a room to stay, thawing warmth from the crackling fire and food by Mrs. Hall, Griffin seemed aloof and mysterious. He did not engage in a conversation with Mrs. Hall and spoke very little, that too abruptly and rudely. He had an unusual appearance. No matter how much he tried to hide his face behind his dark glasses or under his felt hat, it was noticeable that the man’s face (except for his nose) was covered with white bandage. He wanted to be left alone as long as he stayed and kept looking outside the window. His strange behaviour put him under speculation. Mrs. Hall, on the other hand, seemed a pleasing and good natured woman. As an innkeeper, who was not expecting any guests, she was exited to host the mysterious but rich man when he walked into her inn from the cold. She was a smart businesswoman and showed her hospitality by serving Griffin herself. Unlike Griffin, Mrs. Hall was talkative, persistent, friendly and curious. She even felt sympathetic towards the enigmatic Griffin, for she thought he met with an accident. For this reason and that she considered Griffin a “minting machine”, Mrs. Hall gave him a nice and cosy room.

Dr. Cuss was the general practitioner living in Iping. Hearing about the stories about the stranger, he became quite curious about bandaged recluse. Dr. Cuss had a professional interest in the stranger’s experiments and work. In his eagerness to interview the stranger, and gain the required information from him, Dr. Cuss met him for the first time at Coach and Horses under the pretext of collecting donation for the Nurse fund. He began asking a series of odd questions regarding his appearance. This made the stranger so furious that he pinched Dr. Cuss strongly on nose with an invisible hand. Dr. Cuss once again faces the wrath of the Invisible Man when he along with Vicar Bunting, goes to examine the stranger’s belongings. They were prying into his private notebooks without his permission. The Invisible Man assaults both Cuss and Bunting, demanding his stuff back. He also asked them both to remove their clothes and hand over to him. Yet again, Dr. Cuss’ encounter with the Invisible Man was a disastrous and embarrassing one.

The Invisible Man, Griffin, knew Dr. Kemp from college days. Dr. Kemp too was interested in mysterious, strange and idiosyncratic aspect of science. This is why Griffin was positive that Kemp would be an ideal accomplice to help him rectify the defects in his experiment on invisibility. Griffin wanted Dr. Kemp to help him establish reign of terror in the world. Being an idealistic man and a law abiding citizen, Dr. Kemp was cancelling to become an accomplice and help Griffin commit crime. On one hand, Kemp felt sympathetic towards Griffin, Invisible Man, on the other he appeared to be insane and a threat to the society. Therefore, he decided to alert the police and get Griffin arrested. Dr. Kemp’s actions may be deemed as unfaithful towards his friend. However, it was for the welfare of the society and human kind.