English Class 10 - X CBSE SR 5 - Footprints without Feet Overview

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INTRODUCTION

The story “Footprints Without Feet” is an excerpt from the novel “The Invisible Man” written by H.G wells. The novel deals with the adventures of a scientist - Griffin, who discovers a mysterious drug that could make the human body invisible. This story is about how instead of using that rare drug for the benefit of people, Griffin misused it for his selfish purpose and troubled other people.

CHARACTERS

1. Griffin - He was an extraordinary and brilliant scientist. He discovered that the human body could become invisible and transparent as a sheet of glass.

2. Mrs Hall - The landlord’s wife at the local inn in Iping.

3. Jaffers - He is the village constable.

SUMMARY

Muddy Imprints

Two boys were highly surprised. They saw muddy impressions on the steps of a house in London. They were the fresh foot marks of a barefooted man. The boys followed them. The impressions got fainter and finally disappeared.

The Mystery of Footmarks

The mystery of foot marks was quite simple. The boys were following a scientist. He had just discovered how to make the human body transparent.

Griffin - Great but Eccentric Scientist: 

Griffin was a great scientist. He carried out many experiments to prove that the human body could become invisible. In the end, he swallowed some rare drugs and his body became transparent. He was a lawless person. His landlord disliked him and tried to eject him. In revenge, Griffin set his house on fire.

Unseen when Naked

Griffin had to remove all his clothes if he wanted to be unseen by the people. He became a homeless wanderer without clothes. He had no money. He left foot marks as he moved.

In a Big London Store

The air was bitterly cold. Griffin was naked. Instead of walking about the streets, he entered a London store for warmth. He enjoyed the pleasure of clothes and food freely. He fitted himself out with warm clothes there. He became fully dressed up with shoes, an overcoat and a hat. After putting on clothes, he became visible. He had cold meat and coffee, sweets and wine from the grocery store. He slept on a pile of quilts. He didn’t wake up until the assistants arrived the next morning. When they came near, he panicked and began to run. But he could become invisible only when he was totally naked. So he took off his newly found clothes. Once more he became naked in the chilling January air.

In Drury Lane

He hurried to Drury Lane, the center of the theater world. He entered the shop of a theatrical company to become invisible. He came out of the shop wearing bandages around his forehead, glasses, false nose, side-whiskers and a large hat. Then, he attacked a shopkeeper and robbed him of all the money he could find.

Arrival in Iping Village

Griffin wanted to get away from the crowded London. He came to the village of Iping. He booked two rooms in a local inn. He paid the rent in advance. The arrival of a stranger of such strange appearance became the talk of the town. Mrs. Hall tried to be friendly with her guest Griffin. He told her that he didn’t want to be disturbed. He wanted to be alone. She thought that her guest was an eccentric scientist. She didn’t mind his strange habits and irritable temper. Griffin’s cash finished. He told a lie that he was expecting a cheque at any moment. 

Clergyman Burgled

A strange episode occurred. A clergyman and his wife were awakened by the noises in the study very early in the morning. They came downstairs and heard the chink of money being taken from the desk. With a poker in his hand, the clergyman flung open the door. He shouted, “surrender!” He was surprised to see the room empty. They looked under the desk, behind the curtains and even up the chimney. No one was there. They found the desk open and the money missing. They were highly surprised but couldn’t understand anything.

Mrs. Hall’s Furniture Shows Strange Behaviour

The landlord and his wife (Mrs. Hall) woke up very early. They found Griffin’s door wide open. Usually, it was shut and locked. They peeped around but found nobody. They found Griffin’s clothes and bandages lying about. All of a sudden Mrs. Hall heard a sniff close to her ear. A hat leapt up and dashed itself into her face. The chair became alive. They turned away in fear. Then the chair pushed both of them out of the room. Even the door was slammed and locked after them. Mrs. Hall almost fell down the stairs and started crying. She was sure that the room was haunted by spirits. The villagers suspected that the trouble was caused by witchcraft. When the news of burglary at the clergyman’s home became known, everyone doubted Griffin’s hand in it. This suspicion grew stronger when Griffin suddenly showed some ready cash. He had no cash a few days before.

Invisible Man Shows Himself

Mrs. Hall went to Griffin’s room. He was there. She asked what he had done to her chair upstairs. She also asked how he had entered a locked room. The scientist lost his temper. He became furious and cried “I’ll show you.” Suddenly he threw away all bandages, whiskers, spectacles and even nose. The horrified men in the bar stared at a headless man.

Encounter with Constable Jeffers

The police constable who had been informed, arrived now. He was totally surprised to find that he was to arrest a man without a head. There followed a wonderful scene. The scientist (Griffin) started throwing his clothes one by one. He was becoming more and more invisible as he threw off one garment after another. Finally, the man became invisible. Some people who tried to hold him were beaten by the unseen blows that came from nowhere. In the end, Jeffers was knocked unconscious. Nervous and excited people started crying “Hold him!” Griffin was invisible and free now. No one knew where to lay hands on him.

MESSAGE

The chapter conveys a message that misuse of science and its great discoveries can make even a brilliant scientist like Griffin a monster and a threatening lawless person. An another message given in this chapter is that excessive greed can have unintended and disastrous consequences as is evidently reflected in the story.