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Dramatic Irony
Chapter 23: In Drury Lane
Explanation and Analysis—Griffin and Doctor Kemp:
Griffin and Dr. Kemp, due to their similar backgrounds but opposite natures, are foils for each other. They are both brilliant scientists, as Griffin turns himself invisible and Dr. Kemp is a well-respected physician who is devoted to his work. They both went to the same university and had an acquaintanceship.
However, Doctor Kemp is beloved, respected, and well-integrated into society. He has a house with servants. The police chief and the people of Port Burdock respect his judgement in general matters. He has a moral compass in line with social conventions, showing concern for his neighbors and fellow townspeople. Dr. Kemp is also even-headed and stays calm in positions of pressure. Additionally, he is merciful, initially providing Griffin with shelter.
Griffin has a completely opposite set of life circumstances. He is cast out into solitude without any loyal companion, is never afforded respect for his scientific contributions outside the university, and lives in abject poverty. His research was so unprofitable he had to steal from his father. Griffin’s main desires, therefore, are for two things that he lacks and that Mr. Kemp has: respect and power. Mr. Kemp, for his part, got those things in ways sanctioned by society and, unlike Griffin, he did not turn to crime.
In Chapter 23, when Griffin accounts the events of his life after he turned invisible, he talks about how he had to steal to survive, and Dr. Kemp is surprised by this behavior. Their conversation, following Dr. Kemp exclaiming his surprise that Griffin committed a robbery, showcases their differences:
“Robbing! Confound it! You’ll call me a thief next! Surely, Kemp, you’re not fool enough to dance on the old strings. Can’t you see my position?”
“And his too,” said Kemp.
Griffin excuses any immoral act he undertakes with an excuse regarding necessity. He claims he had to steal because obtaining food and shelter was necessary to his survival. Dr. Kemp, on the other hand, calls this “pure selfishness.” Kemp differs from Griffin because he focuses on the well-being of the group. His concerns regarding the Invisible Man are about what he is going to do to the town of Port Burdock and the world at large—concerns that come from his belief that it is morally important to care for other people.
Related Themes:
