The Invisible Man: Science Meets Human Nature

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Recommended: Themes explored in the invisible man h g wells

H.G. Wells is known as the father of science fiction. During his life time he wrote many science fiction novels seeming to predict the future. At the time most of his ideas seemed obscure but now readers can see how similar his stories are to their lives. With each passing moment technology becomes more and more advanced and causes changes in society. Abortion and genetic mutation have become prime issues. Do humans have the right to “play God”? Is technology more hurtful than beneficial? How does the inventions science create affect human nature? H.G. Wells answers those questions in his novel, The Invisible Man. The main character Griffin or “the stranger” (Wells 1) discovers a new creation (invisibility) that gives him tremendous power. Through his actions over the course of the novel and his interactions with other characters, readers can see that this power he has obtained from science brings out true human nature. Griffin progresses from keeping to himself, to becoming increasingly violent, and then wants to use his scientific discovery for evil. The temptations of having all this power and the possibility of money drive Griffin into a downward spiral that leads to failure.

The stranger first arrives in the small, remote town of Iping in early February (Wells 1). This seemed a bit strange because it is very rare for anyone to visit Iping especially during the middle of winter. The townspeople notice something different about him but are not quite sure what it is. His first encounter with another character is with Mrs. Hall. She asks for his coat so they can dry but he refuses to give them to her (Wells 2). Once he takes his hat off, Mrs. Hall is startled by “the fact that all his forehead above his blue glasses was cov...

... middle of paper ...

... 396). In killing Griffin at the end Wells’ stance is what Griffin does is wrong.

Science can be a very powerful thing once it meets human nature. The true human nature is sinful and selfish. When given a certain power humans must decide what to do with it. Use it for good or bad? Wells realized where science could lead the world if one person held all the power science can hold. He displays that through the character Griffin. When science meets human nature society better be prepared.

Works Cited

Cantor, Paul A. "The Invisible Man And The Invisible Hand." American Scholar 68.3 (1999): 89. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 1 Feb. 2012.

Sirabian, Robert. "The Conception Of Science In Wells's The Invisible Man." Papers On Language & Literature 37.4 (2001): 382. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 1 Feb. 2012.

Wells, H.G. The Invisible Man. New York: Penguin Group, 2002. Print.

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