Origianlly Published: 1897
Length: 208 pages
Source: Library
Challenge(s): 1001+, Classics Club
Personal Enjoyment Factor:3/5
Ambition--what is the good of pride of place when you cannot appear there? What is the good of the love of a woman when her name must needs be Delilah? I have no taste for politics, for the blackguardisms of fame, for philanthropy, for sport. What was I to do? And for this I had become a wrapped-up mystery, a swathed and bandaged caricature of a man.
When it comes to the magical objects of the Harry Potter world, the Time-Turner tops my list for most coveted items. The Pensieve is high on the list as well--my brain could use a thorough decluttering. But I have to admit that the Invisibility Cloak would be pretty cool. I have no nefarious purposes for it in mind--I don't want to steal or cheat, I have no authority figures I need to hide or run from, and I do NOT want to know what people are saying about me behind my back. No, I just want to use it to go on errands with messy hair and pajamas without fear of ending up in a People of Walmart video.
Why does Griffin, our brilliant scientist who discovers a formula to make himself invisible, want to be unseen by the world? In current movies and books, we have gotten used to sympathizing with the villain, trying to figure out how he got to be the way he is, finding excuses for him, hating his behavior but wanting to give him a big hug. In The Invisible Man, you just want to give the guy a good slap in the face. Sure, he is an albino when visible, which might cause the reader to try to make some sort of psychological analysis about how he may have been ignored by his associates for being different, and his obsession with his experiments was a way to prove himself and be valued by society. But this sliver of sympathy is grossly overshadowed by the fact that the guy is a textbook psychopath. He never takes responsibility for his actions, cares nothing for the feelings of others, and has no feelings of guilt for the crimes he commits. So what does he actually gain from being invisible? Well, he gets a cold, and the side effects of the drugs are remarkably similar to a bad case of PMS.
I'll admit, I would have been cranky too. Griffin may have unlocked the secrets of invisibility, but he has no clue how to make himself visible again. He either has to wrap himself up with bandages and don a curious outfit, or walk naked in the cold. I'm sure he would have appreciated a good invisibility cloak! But the world Wells creates is not magic, it's scientific. He gives such a detailed and believable description of how Griffin's formula works, that the reader is able to suspend disbelief. Now I just need to suspend my mental image of a naked albino.
This sounds great....love your last line:)
ReplyDeleteI dont think I have ever read anything by HG Wells.... I hope to some day - love this cover!
ReplyDeleteI read this a long time ago. I remember being intrigued by the real problems being invisible caused the main character, but don't recall his psychopathic tendencies. Maybe it just didn't stand out for me. I'd be curious to read this one again.
ReplyDeleteI read this last year and I just couldn't believe what a jerk Griffin was!
ReplyDeleteHmm, I think if I were to read this one, I'd still prefer Ralph Ellison's of the same title. You're right- villains in the past were very black and white, whereas now they tend to be more nuanced. I prefer that, though I think we still need a ways to go with our descriptions of heroes, most of whom are still really perfect or stunningly attractive people.
ReplyDeleteEwww...a naked albino! Interesting what you said about him not being sympathetic. That would make it difficult to relate to him on any level.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea for use of the invisibility cloak. I would love to be able to run out in my pajamas and not worry about someone I know seeing me.
It's nice to see you back. I hope you enjoyed the break.
Sheila,
ReplyDeleteOne of the great things about Wells is that his novels are pretty short, so you can squeeze one into a busy schedule pretty easily. I love this cover too--sadly it's not the one I read. I always just pick the one I like the best to add :)
Jeane,
ReplyDeleteThere was a lot about how being invisible was not as exciting as it sounds. Maybe it stood out for me because I wasn't expecting it. I thought I was going to like him.
Melissa,
ReplyDeleteYes, I was just disgusted at how self-centered he was!
Aarti,
ReplyDeleteThis and Ralph Ellison's are such completely different experiences, but Ellison's is a far superior work. I like my villains more complex too. And my heroes to be of the unlikely sort.
Kristi,
ReplyDeleteHe was rather hard to relate to. Wouldn't that be great to shop unseen? It would save me so much time and leave more time for reading!
And this is what I am reading next for my online course (I've just commented on your Island of Doctor Moreau post). I haven't quite started yet, so I'll be back.
ReplyDeleteI've never read Wells' work despite him being a classic. This one sure sounds interesting though.
ReplyDeleteNbernier, I finished it, but that doesn't mean it made much sense to me, lol! My final thoughts are in this post: http://blog.chainreader.com/2011/06/ulysses-by-james-joyce.html
ReplyDeleteare you still reading Ulysses ? iv'e read your critique of a section of the first page and i really found it entertaining...
ReplyDeleteI still need to read this, and I love your idea of going shopping in pjs and not making a spectacle out of yourself. I get some weird looks taking my dog out in the mornings since I'm still wearing my pjs. Doesn't everyone have striped purple pants and wear a yellow or red shirt? I should mention that I'm not color blind--just lazy.
ReplyDelete