Why doesn't Griffin use his invisibility for good?

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CBSE Class 10 English★ 4-6 marks · CBSE Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet (Supplementary Reader) Chapter 5

Footprints without Feet (H.G. Wells)

A brilliant scientist discovers how to turn himself invisible — and immediately descends into theft and violence. H.G. Wells' classic tale asks: what happens when power falls into the hands of someone without morals? CBSE Class 10 English (Footprints Without Feet) Chapter 5.

⏱ 14 min readMedium difficulty✓ Free · NCERT-aligned

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By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

1Summarise the plot: footprints, Griffin's discovery, crimes, Iping village, reveal
2Analyse Griffin as a brilliant but lawless scientist
3Explain the title's literal and symbolic meanings
4Discuss the theme: science without ethics is dangerous
5Connect to H.G. Wells as the father of science fiction

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Why this chapter matters

Title chapter of the supplementary reader. Classic H.G. Wells sci-fi. Science without ethics question is a guaranteed exam theme. The 'footprints without feet' image is iconic.

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The Midnight Visitor (Robert Arthur)

Previous chapter in Footprints Without Feet

Footprints without Feet — H.G. Wells

"Griffin had no conscience. He was a lawless man — and now, an invisible one."

1. About the Story

'Footprints without Feet' by H.G. Wells (British author, 1866–1946) is an extract from Wells' classic science fiction novel 'The Invisible Man' (1897). The chapter introduces GRIFFIN, a brilliant scientist who discovers how to make himself INVISIBLE — and then uses his power for crime.

Why This Story

SCIENCE FICTION — unique genre in the syllabus
Gripping: an invisible man wreaking havoc
Moral question: what happens when POWER is without MORALITY?
Based on a landmark novel — H.G. Wells is the 'father of science fiction'
The title chapter of the supplementary reader!

2. About the Author

H.G. Wells (1866–1946)

British author — 'The Father of Science Fiction'
Famous novels: 'The Time Machine', 'The War of the Worlds', 'The Invisible Man'
Trained as a scientist (biology student of T.H. Huxley)
His sci-fi is grounded in REAL SCIENCE
Social commentary: Wells used sci-fi to critique society

3. Characters

Griffin

BRILLIANT scientist — discovered invisibility
BUT: LAWLESS, without a conscience
Uses his power for THEFT, VIOLENCE, TERROR
Physically: albino, pink-white hair, large goggles, bandaged face (to be visible)
When invisible: no clothes, no colour, completely transparent
Moving through the world like a GHOST

Mrs Hall

Landlady of the inn at Iping village
Practical, no-nonsense, suspicious
Rents a room to the 'eccentric scientist' (Griffin disguised)
Notices strange things: furniture moving, Griffin's odd appearance
Represents ORDINARY PEOPLE confronting the EXTRAORDINARY

The People of Iping

Small English village
Suspicious of the strange 'scientist'
Eventually confront Griffin
Griffin's invisibility is revealed when he STRIPS
They represent SOCIETY — law, order, community

4. Plot Summary

The Mysterious Footprints

Two boys see FOOTPRINTS appearing in the mud — FRESH, step by step
But there are NO FEET making them
The footprints are of a BARE-FOOTED MAN
They follow the footprints — they gradually fade and disappear
The boys are AMAZED and TERRIFIED

Griffin in London

Flashback: Griffin had been experimenting with invisibility
He discovered a RARE DRUG that turned his body TRANSPARENT
Like GLASS — a completely transparent solid
First experiment: a piece of white wool → vanished
Then: experimented on a CAT (the yowling suggested it was painful)
Finally: experimented on HIMSELF — became INVISIBLE

Life as an Invisible Man

Being invisible is NOT glamorous:
- Cannot wear CLOTHES (they'd be visible)
- Must be NAKED to be fully invisible
- COLD — especially in London
- Cannot eat in public (food visible inside transparent stomach)
- People bump into him — he can't be seen
Griffin's response: not to solve problems, but to RESORT TO CRIME

The Crimes

Set FIRE to his landlord's house (revenge for being bothered)
Stole CLOTHES from a London store, wore them, stole money
Stole stage makeup, bandages, a wig, and goggles from a theatrical costumier's shop at Drury Lane to disguise his face
Fled London to the village of IPING

At Iping Village

'Eccentric scientist' arrives at Mrs Hall's inn
Wrapped up: bandages, goggles, hat — HIDING his invisibility
Strange behaviour: never removes bandages, angry when questioned
Runs out of money; steals Mrs Hall's money
Furniture attacks Mrs Hall and her husband (Griffin moving it invisibly)

The Reveal

The constable (policeman) is called
Confrontation: Griffin REMOVES his bandages, hat, goggles, clothes
He becomes COMPLETELY INVISIBLE before their eyes
Everyone TERRIFIED — they cannot fight what they cannot SEE
Griffin knocks out the constable and escapes
The chapter ends with Griffin on the loose

5. The Title — 'Footprints without Feet'

Literal Meaning

Footprints in the mud with NO FEET making them
The central image: the visible TRACE of an invisible BEING

Deeper Meaning

Griffin leaves MARKS on the world (theft, violence, terror) — but cannot be HELD ACCOUNTABLE
'Footprints without feet' = actions without accountability
Society relies on VISIBILITY for law and order — invisibility breaks this

6. Griffin — A Study in Power Without Morality

His Brilliance

He is a GENIUS — actually discovered invisibility
Years of research, scientific method
One of literature's first 'mad scientists'

His Flaw

NO CONSCIENCE
Uses a world-changing discovery for PETTY THEFT
Burns a man's house for minor annoyance
Terrorises a village for room rent
H.G. Wells' message: SCIENCE without ETHICS is MONSTROUS

Griffin vs Society

The story asks: what happens when one person has ABSOLUTE POWER (invisibility = power) and NO MORALS?
Answer: CHAOS, TERROR, CRIME
Griffin is what happens when you remove both VISIBILITY and CONSCIENCE

7. Themes

1. Science Without Ethics

Scientific genius without moral conscience is DANGEROUS. Griffin's invisibility could help humanity. Instead, he uses it for crime.

2. Power Corrupts

Invisibility = power. Griffin's FIRST instinct with this power is THEFT and VIOLENCE.

3. Actions vs Accountability

'Footprints without feet' = the gap between DOING and being HELD RESPONSIBLE. Society needs visibility for justice.

4. The Inhumanity of Invisibility

Being invisible CUTS Griffin off from humanity. He becomes LESS human — colder, crueller.

5. Fear of the Unknown

The people of Iping are TERRIFIED not of Griffin but of what they CANNOT SEE. The INVISIBLE is scarier than the visible.

8. Literary Devices

Science Fiction

Based on SCIENTIFIC PREMISE (drug changes refractive index)
Explores consequences of scientific discovery
Classic Wells: 'what if' → social commentary

Imagery

Visual: footprints appearing in mud, bandaged face, clothes flying off
Horror: furniture moving by itself, a man DISAPPEARING before your eyes

Suspense

Built from the opening: WHO is making these footprints?
The bandaged 'scientist' — what is he hiding?
The slow reveal: bandages → stripping → invisible man

Foreshadowing

The cat's painful yowling during experiment — hints that invisibility is DANGEROUS
Mrs Hall's growing suspicion — builds toward confrontation

Contrast

GRIFFIN THE GENIUS vs GRIFFIN THE CRIMINAL
Extraordinary power (invisibility) vs petty use (stealing money from an inn)
Griffin VISIBLE (bandaged, disguised) vs Griffin INVISIBLE (stripped, free)

Tone

Matter-of-fact about extraordinary events (Wells' signature style)
Slightly horrified but calmly narrated

9. The Problem of Invisibility — Griffin's Daily Life

Why Being Invisible is NOT Easy

Problem	Griffin's 'Solution'
People can't see you → bump into you	Nothing — just suffer
Can't wear clothes (clothes visible)	Must be NAKED in cold London
Can't eat in public (food visible in stomach)	Eat alone, hidden
Can't be identified (no face)	Bandages, goggles, hat, wig
Can't earn money honestly	THEFT and CRIME
Can't have a home	Fleeing, hiding

The Irony

Invisibility SOUNDS like a superpower
In PRACTICE: it's MISERABLE and ISOLATING
Griffin's own CHOICES make it worse (choosing crime)

10. Common Mistakes

Griffin is a superhero — NO. He's a VILLAIN. Power without morality = villain.
The story is just a fun sci-fi adventure — It's a MORAL FABLE. The invisible man = what happens when science lacks ethics.
Invisibility is always a 'cool' power — The story shows it's ACTUALLY miserable. Cold, naked, hungry, alone.
Griffin was driven to crime by circumstances — PARTIALLY. He had choices. He CHOSE crime repeatedly. His lack of conscience is the ROOT cause.
The people of Iping were hostile to Griffin because he looked different — They were suspicious because he ACTED suspiciously (stealing, furniture attacks).

11. Lessons / Morals

Science needs ethics — knowledge without morality is dangerous
Power without conscience destroys — the user and those around them
Invisibility is not freedom — it's isolation
Actions have consequences — even if the doer is 'invisible'
Society relies on accountability — 'footprints without feet' is a nightmare for justice
Great power needs great character — without it, power becomes destruction

12. Worked Examples

Example 1: Character

Describe Griffin's character. Was he more a victim or a villain?

Griffin is a BRILLIANT SCIENTIST who discovered invisibility. But he is also LAWLESS — 'a lawless man' with no conscience. He uses his discovery for: setting fire to his landlord's house (revenge), stealing from stores, robbing an inn, terrorising a village. While his invisibility DOES cause genuine hardships (cold, nakedness, isolation), his RESPONSE to every problem is CRIME. He never tries to use his power for good. Griffin is primarily a VILLAIN — brilliant but utterly immoral.

Example 2: Title

Explain the title 'Footprints without Feet'.

Literally: fresh footprints appearing in the mud with NO FEET making them — made by the invisible Griffin walking barefoot. Symbolically: 'footprints' = actions and consequences; 'no feet' = no visible agent, no one to hold accountable. The title captures the central anxiety of the story — what happens when someone can ACT but cannot be HELD RESPONSIBLE? The footprints are the EVIDENCE of Griffin, but the lack of feet means he can ESCAPE accountability.

Example 3: Theme

How does 'Footprints without Feet' warn about the dangers of science without ethics?

Griffin's invisibility is a BREAKTHROUGH — a genuine scientific achievement. But Griffin has NO MORAL COMPASS. His first instinct with his discovery is not to help humanity — it's ARSON, THEFT, and TERROR. Wells' warning: scientific power in the hands of someone without ethics is CATASTROPHIC. The chapter is not anti-science — it's pro-ETHICS. Great discoveries need great character to wield them. Griffin has the first but not the second.

13. Indian Context

Science and Ethics in India

India's scientific tradition has always emphasised ETHICS alongside knowledge
Ancient Indian scientists (Aryabhata, Charaka, Sushruta) linked knowledge to DHARMA
Modern India: ethical debates around AI, biotechnology, nuclear power

The 'Invisible' People

The story can be read as a metaphor for MARGINALISED people — 'invisible' to society
Griffin, however, CHOSE invisibility and uses it for harm — not a straightforward metaphor

Indian Sci-Fi

Growing genre in India: Satyajit Ray's Professor Shonku stories
Modern Indian sci-fi authors: Vandana Singh, Samit Basu

14. Conclusion

'Footprints without Feet' is a DARK, GRIPPING chapter from a science fiction classic:

GRIFFIN: a GENIUS without a CONSCIENCE
THE DISCOVERY: invisibility — an extraordinary scientific achievement
THE CRIMES: arson, theft, terror — the power used for evil
THE HORROR: footprints appearing from nowhere, furniture attacking, a man disappearing
THE MESSAGE: science without ethics is MONSTROUS

For Indian students:

This is the TITLE CHAPTER of the supplementary reader — it matters
Know the difference: Griffin is a VILLAIN, not a superhero
The 'footprints without feet' title works on MULTIPLE levels (memorise them)
H.G. Wells = father of science fiction (exam fact)

'Footprints without Feet' — what you cannot see CAN still destroy you.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Author

H.G. Wells (British, 1866–1946)

Father of science fiction

Source

Extract from 'The Invisible Man' (1897)

Griffin

Brilliant scientist turned invisible — but LAWLESS, no conscience

Discovery

Rare drug makes body transparent (like glass)

Changes refractive index

Problem of invisibility

Cannot wear clothes, cold, hungry, alone — resorts to crime

Crimes

Arson (landlord's house), theft (London store, theatre shop, inn), assault (constable)

Title meaning

Literal: invisible footsteps in mud. Symbolic: actions without accountability.

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Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT

✗ Griffin is a superhero / the hero of the story

✓ Griffin is a VILLAIN. He uses his discovery for arson, theft, and terror. Power without morality = danger.

WATCH OUT

✗ Being invisible is fun and easy

✓ The story shows it's MISERABLE: cold, naked, hungry, isolated. Griffin can't eat publicly, can't wear clothes, people bump into him.

WATCH OUT

✗ The chapter stands alone — not part of a novel

✓ It's an EXTRACT from H.G. Wells' novel 'The Invisible Man' (1897). The full novel continues Griffin's story.

NCERT exercises (with solutions)

Every NCERT exercise from this chapter — what it covers and how many questions to expect.

Character, theme, title

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· Plot

How did Griffin become invisible?

▶ Show solution

✦ Answer: Griffin, a brilliant scientist, discovered a RARE DRUG that could make the human body TRANSPARENT — like glass. After experimenting on a piece of wool and a cat, he took the drug himself and became INVISIBLE. He was an albino, which helped — his skin already lacked pigment.

Q2MEDIUM· Character

Describe Griffin's character. Why is he more a villain than a victim?

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — His brilliance.
  Griffin is a GENIUS — he actually discovered invisibility through scientific research. A world-changing achievement.

Step 2 — His flaw.
  'He had no conscience. He was a lawless man.' Griffin's moral emptiness defines him.

Step 3 — His choices.
  His FIRST act after invisibility: ARSON (burned landlord's house for minor annoyance).
  Then: THEFT from London stores, theatre shop robbery, stealing from Mrs Hall's inn.
  Finally: ASSAULT on the constable.

Step 4 — Why villain, not victim.
  Griffin faces GENUINE hardships (cold, nakedness, isolation). But EVERY response he makes is CRIMINAL. He never tries to use his power for good. He never seeks ethical solutions. He CHOOSES violence and theft, repeatedly.

Step 5 — Wells' intention.
  Griffin is a CHARACTER WARNING: brilliance without ethics = destruction.

✦ Answer: Griffin is a brilliant scientist whose lack of conscience makes him a villain. Despite genuine hardships of invisibility (cold, nakedness, isolation), he CHOOSES arson, theft, and assault as his solutions. He never uses his discovery for good — his first instinct is crime. Wells presents him as a warning: science without ethics is catastrophic.

Q3HARD· Theme

'Science without ethics is dangerous.' Discuss with reference to 'Footprints without Feet'.

▶ Show solution

Step 1 — The scientific achievement.
  Griffin's invisibility is a GENUINE BREAKTHROUGH. It required years of research, understanding of optics and refractive indices, development of a rare drug. Scientifically, it's extraordinary.

Step 2 — The ethical vacuum.
  Griffin has NO moral framework. He is 'a lawless man' with 'no conscience'. He never asks: SHOULD I become invisible? What should I DO with this power? How will it affect others?

Step 3 — The consequences of science without ethics.
  • First act: ARSON (revenge, minor provocation).
  • Second: THEFT from a department store.
  • Third: ROBBERY of a theatre shop (for disguise materials).
  • Fourth: STEALING from Mrs Hall's inn.
  • Fifth: ASSAULTING the constable.
  • Ongoing: TERRORISING an entire village.

Step 4 — What could Griffin have done differently?
  • Shared the discovery with the scientific community.
  • Used invisibility to HELP (rescue operations, medical applications).
  • Developed an ethical framework BEFORE becoming invisible.
  Instead, his first thought was CRIME.

Step 5 — Wells' warning.
  Written in 1897, in an era of rapid scientific progress. Wells' message: science is advancing FASTER than ethics. If we don't develop moral wisdom alongside scientific knowledge, we create Griffins — brilliant destroyers.

Step 6 — Modern relevance.
  The question applies to AI, genetic engineering, surveillance technology, nuclear weapons. Every scientific advance asks: do we have the WISDOM to use this responsibly?

Step 7 — The title as warning.
  'Footprints without feet' = actions without accountability. Science without ethics allows people to act without being held responsible — the ultimate danger.

✦ Answer: Wells uses Griffin to warn that scientific brilliance without moral conscience is catastrophic. Griffin's world-changing discovery of invisibility is immediately used for arson, theft, and terror — because he lacks any ethical framework. The story, written in 1897 during rapid scientific progress, remains profoundly relevant: every new technology (AI, biotech, nuclear) demands not just INTELLIGENCE to create but WISDOM and ETHICS to use responsibly. Without ethics, science creates unaccountable power — 'footprints without feet'.

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

•Author: H.G. Wells (British, 1866–1946) — Father of Science Fiction
•Source: Extract from 'The Invisible Man' (1897)
•Griffin: brilliant scientist, discovered invisibility, NO conscience
•Invisibility method: rare drug → body transparent as glass
•Problems of invisibility: no clothes, cold, hungry, isolated
•Crimes: arson, theft (store, theatre shop, inn), assault (constable)
•Setting: London → Iping village
•Mrs Hall: landlady at Iping, suspicious of 'bandaged scientist'
•Reveal: Griffin strips → completely invisible → terrifies everyone → escapes
•Theme: science without ethics is dangerous

CBSE marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 4-6 marks

Question type	Marks each	Typical count	What it tests
MCQ/Short	1-2	2	Plot, character
Long	3-5	1	Character or theme (science/ethics)

Prep strategy

Know the 'footprints without feet' title meanings (literal + symbolic)
Griffin: brilliant + lawless — two adjectives, one character
Science without ethics theme — prepare a full essay

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

AI ethics debate

Modern version of Wells' question: brilliant engineers create AI without ethical frameworks → 'footprints without feet' in the digital age.

Anonymous online behaviour

The internet creates 'invisibility' — people can act without visible accountability. Griffin's story mirrors online trolling, cybercrime, and the ethics of anonymity.

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

For title question: literal meaning (footprints appearing from nowhere) + symbolic (actions without accountability)
Griffin's character: always pair 'brilliant' with 'lawless' — the pairing IS the point
Use the full list of Griffin's crimes as evidence of his villainy

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

Read the full novel 'The Invisible Man' by H.G. Wells
Read other Wells classics: 'The Time Machine', 'War of the Worlds'
Compare with Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' (another 'science without ethics' story)
Research the real science: how close are we to invisibility?

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

CBSE Class 10 BoardVery High

English OlympiadMedium

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Questions students ask

The real ones — pulled from the Q&A community and tutor sessions.

Because he has NO CONSCIENCE. He is 'a lawless man'. His FIRST instinct with the discovery was ARSON (revenge). He doesn't see invisibility as a tool for helping — he sees it as a tool for GETTING WHAT HE WANTS without consequences. This is Wells' precise point: scientific BRILLIANCE without MORAL CHARACTER is not just wasted — it's DANGEROUS. The right question is not 'what can invisibility do?' but 'what kind of person has it?'

Practice more, ask doubts, find a tutor

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