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Chapter 12
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Invisible Man, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Freedom, Anonymity, and Immorality
The Future vs. the Past
Greed and Self-Interest
Skepticism vs. Belief
Humans, Science, and Nature
Summary
Analysis
By evening, people begin to tentatively return to the streets of Iping. Thomas Marvel walks “painfully” along the path to Bramblehurst. He is still carrying the three books and bundle of items wrapped in a tablecloth. The voice—Griffin—travels with him, cursing him for “giving me the slip” and threatening to kill him if he ever does it again. Griffin also curses the villagers for ruining his “little secret” and wonders what he is supposed to do. Marvel wonders what he is supposed to do as well. Griffin continues to insult Marvel, calling him “stupid.” He then calls Marvel a “fool” and says: “You do what you’re told.”
It has not taken long for Griffin to drop the act of flattery and begin insulting and threatening Marvel, revealing his true feelings about him. Griffin appears to view everyone else in the world with disdain, seeing them all as inferior to him. He is a severe misanthrope, cursing everyone around him for being foolish or disloyal when it is in fact he himself who has behaved in the most cruel, immoral manner.
Themes
Marvel tries to protest, saying that he is not the right person for this job. Griffin ignores this, threatening to hurt him again if he does not be quiet. They arrive at a small village, and Griffin says that he will keep his hand on Marvel’s shoulder as they walk through it. He tells Marvel to go straight and not try any “foolery,” or otherwise things will be bad for him. Marvel replies that he knows that.
Griffin is now treating Marvel like a puppet, literally steering him around in order to carry out his demands. This suggests that Griffin does not even really see Marvel as a human being, but rather just a tool to be used for his own ends.
Themes
