Footprints Without Feet

Introduction

The Footprints without Feet chapter narrates the story of a brilliant scientist, Griffin, who discovered a wonderful potion that could make a naked man invisible. He decided to take revenge from his landlord who didn’t like him. One day he set his landlord’s house on fire and drank the liquor that he had discovered. With this liquor, he became invisible. He could see everyone but none was able to see him. This story is about how instead of using that rare drug for benefit of people, Griffin misused it for his selfish purpose and troubled other people.Advertisement

Summary of Footprints Without Feet

Footprints Without Feet is an excerpt from the famous novel “An Invisible man” written by H.G. Wells. The novel deals with the adventures of a scientist “Griffin” who discovers a way by which a human body can become invisible. He faces many hardships but overcomes each one of them in one way or the other. The chapter commences when two boys become surprised and fascinated on seeing muddy imprints of a pair of bare feet on the steps of a house in London. These imprints are of a brilliant scientist, Griffin, who discovers the method of making a human body invisible. He carries out many experiments and finally swallows certain rare kinds of drugs to become transparent. He is presented in the novel and our chapter as a lawless person. His landlord, being dissatisfied with him tries to expel him but he in return sets fire to his house and escapes by becoming invisible. He chooses to be a homeless rogue in mid-winter when it becomes unbearable for him to wander without clothes. He enters a big London store and uses various garments to wear, and feeds himself with food and wine. Then he sleeps comfortably on a pile of quilts. Next morning, when he does not wake up in time, the assistants of the store chase him and he escapes by removing the garments. Thus, he again becomes invisible.

Next, he enters a theatrical company and uses its stock to cover himself. Moreover, he knocks down a shopkeeper and robs him off his money. He then goes away from London to the countryside village of Iping, where he books two rooms in a local inn. His arrival surprises everyone because of his strange get up and appearance and awkward time of arrival. His landlady tries to be friendly with him, but he avoids her and tells her that his motive of coming to Iping is seclusion. So, his landlady excuses his irritable nature considering him an eccentric person and mainly due to his advance payment. Soon, Griffin’s stolen money finishes and he puts off his landlady for the payment of rent by pretending to expect a cheque. Shortly afterwards. a clergyman and his wife get awakened by some noises in the study. They creep downstairs and find the clergyman’s desk open and housekeeping money missing. Later, in the morning, Mrs And Mr Hall find the scientist’s door wide open and decide to investigate his belongings.

Suddenly, Mrs Hall hears a sniff close to her ear. Then Griffin’s hat leaps up and dashes itself in her face. A little later, the bedroom chair becomes alive and pushes the landlord and the landlady out of the room and slams the door behind them. Mrs Hall becomes very much emotional because of her mother’s furniture rising up against her. She blames Griffin for creating some evil spirits to enter her mother’s furniture. The neighbours believe the abnormal behaviour of the

furniture because of witchcraft but the news of theft at the clergyman’s house and Griffin’s presentation of ready cash create suspicion on him.

Finally, the village constable is called but Mrs Hall starts asking the scientist about the abnormal behaviour of her furniture. The scientist becomes very furious at these queries and removes his disguising costumes. In a moment, the people at the place find themselves staring at a headless man. Now the constable tries very hard to catch the person who goes on becoming more and more invisible. Finally, he is knocked down and Griffin shakes himself free by becoming invisible once again.

Main Highlights and Attractions of The Chapter

Footprints Without Feet is a story of a scientist who discovers how to make himself invisible. He discovers a special potion which could make a man invisible. But this brilliant scientist misuses his wonderful discovery. He uses it for selfish purpose and harms others.

The two boys saw the fresh muddy imprints of a pair of bare feet but they could not see the man who was leaving the footmarks.

The boys had been actually following a scientist who had discovered a wonderful potion that could make a man invisible.

The name of the scientist was Griffin who had carried out experiment after experiment to prove that the human body could become invisible. Finally, he was successful to discover the desired drug for the purpose.

He swallowed the special drug and became completely invisible.

This brilliant scientist became a selfish and lawless person. He misused his wonderful discovery.

His landlord disliked him and tried to throw him out of his house. Griffin set fire to his house in revenge and escaped using his ability of invisibility.

The scientist now became a homeless wanderer. He wandered invisibly without clothes and money until he happened to step in some mud and left footmarks which the two boys saw and were bewildered at. The two boys were not able to capture the scientist.
As the scientist wandered about London in cold winter, he could not bear the severe cold. He decided to step into a big store so that he could warm himself.

When the shutters of the store were shut, Griffin put on sufficient clothes and fed enough without any worry of expense. Lastly, he slept on a pile of comfortable quilts.
The next morning when the assistants arrived they saw him and they tried to capture him he escaped by undressing all of his clothes that he had newly put on. So, once again he was invisible naked in the chilly air.

Now, as he was badly shivering with cold, he hurried to Drury Lane which was the centre of the theatre world and instantly he found a suitable shop. He entered the shop. Inside there he used the stuff that was available there. He wore bandages around his forehead, dark glasses, false nose, elongated iskers, and a big hate. Finally, in order to escape he timidly attacked the shopkeepers from the backside and after that, he robbed off all the money from him.