The Invisible Man

“It was the sensation of a moment: the white-bound head, the monstrous goggle eyes, and this huge yawn below it.”

The first description of the Invisible Man’s appearance is less science fiction than horror. He is almost human, yet not. Those viewing him don’t suspect anything scientifically wonderous; Rather, they see something monstrous and inhuman—and this may foreshadow Griffin’s descent into depravity and alienation from humanity.

“Big, fat books, of which some were just in an incomprehensible handwriting—and a dozen or more crates, boxes, and cases, containing objects packed in straw [...] glass bottles.”

The villagers marvel at Griffin’s research equipment. They have never seen such erudite tomes or such peculiar apparatuses. Griffin, on the other hand, is overjoyed by these items as they may help him find the antidote to his invisibility.

“That marn’s a piebald, Teddy. Black here and white there—in patches. And he’s ashamed of it. He’s kind of a half-breed, and the colour’s come off patchy instead of mixing.”

The villagers offer up many theories of Griffin’s hidden, bandaged identity. This reference to a piebald may simply come from a mind steeped in farming vernacular—or, it may express racism against biracial people. While the racial sentiment is ambiguous, the remark accurately asserts that Griffin sought to hide the color of his skin—but what is unknown to the villagers is that Griffin’s real disguise is his invisibility, and his skin is albino.