Literature Analysis #3

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

1.     1. At the beginning of this novel, a mysterious man, bandaged from head to toe arrives in the town of Iping, England. He goes to the Coach and Horse Inn, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Hall, and rudely demands a room. He refuses to take off his coats and we find that his entire head is bandaged. Mrs. Hall tries to be as hospitable as possible but the stranger keeps to himself, working by himself and demanding to be left alone through the majority of his stay. The longer the bandaged man stays in Iping, the more rumors are started and spread about him. Suspicion builds of the stranger as a series of burglaries are committed around the community. One day, Mr. and Mrs. Hall pass by the bandaged man’s room to find his clothes lying around and the furniture starts moving. Mrs. Hall suspiciously confronts him later about it and he reveals his invisibility. The police tried to arrest him for the burglaries and he takes off his clothes and flees. The Invisible Man comes across a man named Marvel who he forces to be his assistant and return to Iping to take back his work. Marvel tries to turn the Invisible Man into the police and the Invisible Man threatens to kill him. Marvel hides from the Invisible Man in the town of Burdock, where the Invisible Man tries to get him, but gets shot in the process. He takes refuge in the house of Dr. Kemp, and we find that the Invisible Man is actually Griffin, a former classmate of Dr. Kemp’s. Griffin explains to Kemp that he was trying to come up with something to make people and things invisible with money stolen from his father. He made his neighbor’s cat invisible then ended up using the procedure on himself to avoid being caught. He also reveals that he is albino and his plans for a rein of terror. Kemp tells the police because he realizes Griffin’s insanity, but Griffin escapes and informs Kemp that he will be the first one killed. When Griffin goes to kill Kemp, Kemp flees to the town where the townspeople protect him and end up beating Griffin to death. Marvel is left with the invisibility procedure which he is unable to read.

2.     2. The theme of The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells is that without humanity, progressions in science, such as a process to induce invisibility, can ultimately be a danger to society.

3.     3. H.G. Wells’ tone is mysterious at the beginning then becomes more violent and excited as the action progresses.

“He caught a glimpse of a most singular thing, what seemed like a handless arm waving towards him, and a face with huge indeterminate spots on white, very like the face of a pale pansy.”

“Mr. Hall, endeavoring to act on instructions, received a sounding kick in the ribs that disposed of him for a moment…”

“Mr. Marvel, turning, saw a flint jerk up into the air, trace a complicated path, hang for a moment, and then fling at his feet with almost invisible rapidity. “ (Pun intended?)

4.   4.  Imagery- “You must picture Mr. Thomas Marvel as a person of copious, flexible visage, a nose of cylindrical protrusion, a liquorish, ample, fluctuating mouth, and a beard of bristling eccentricity.”

“Marvel’s face was astonishment.”

“Hall made gestures of silence and invitation.”

Diction (notable amount of puns)- “He scrutinized the apparently empty space keenly.”

“The feeling was a curious pressure, the grip of a heavy, firm hand, and it bore his chin irresistibly to the table.”

“’What the dooce?’ exclaimed Henfrey, sotto voce.”

Syntax- “They appear to have jumped to the impossible conclusion that this was the Invisible Man suddenly becoming visible, and set off at once along the lane in pursuit.”

“Possibly the Invisible Man’s original intention was simply to cover Marvel’s retreat with the clothes and books. But his temper, at no time very good, seems to have gone completely at some chance blow, and forthwith he set to smiting and overthrowing, for the mere satisfaction of hurting.”

“The unhappy-looking figure in the obsolete silk hat passed up the street of the little village with his burdens, and vanished into the gathering darkness beyond the lights of the windows.”

Setting- “When the dusk was gathering and Iping was just beginning to peep timorously forth again upon the shattered wreckage of its Bank Holiday, a short, thick-set man in a shabby silk hat was marching painfully through the twilight behind the beechwoods on the road to Bramblehurst.”

“It was a pleasant little room, with three windows- north, west, and south- and bookshelves covered with books and scientific publications…”

“Outside the night was very quiet and still, and the new moon was setting over the down.”

Structure- “The eighth chapter is exceedingly brief, and relates that Gibbons, the amateur naturalist of the district, while lying out on the spacious open downs without a soul within a couple miles of him, as he thought, and almost dozing, heard close to him the sound of a man coughing, sneezing, and then swearing savagely to himself; and looking, beheld nothing.”

“Now in order to clearly understand what had happened in the inn, it is necessary to go back to the moment when Mr. Marvel first came into view of Mr. Huxter’s window.”

“It is unavoidable that at this point the narrative should break off again, for a certain very painful reason that will presently be apparent.”