The Invisible Man · Chapter
XIX: Certain First Principles explained
Kemp confronts Griffin about the smashed glass and the revelation of his secret.
What happens
Kemp confronts Griffin about the smashed glass and the revelation of his secret. Griffin explains the scientific principles behind invisibility, including the manipulation of refractive index and the discovery of a method to make living tissue transparent. He recounts his years of research, his frustration with academic constraints, and his eventual theft from his father to fund his work.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the psychological turning point where the Invisible Man f…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Science and Ethics
Griffin's pursuit of invisibility is driven by ambition and a desire for power, leading him to rob his father and disregard moral boundaries.
- Power and Corruption
Griffin envisions invisibility as a means to 'mystery, power, and freedom,' revealing his corrupting lust for control.
- Isolation and Alienation
Griffin describes his years of solitary work and the loneliness of his great moments, emphasizing his separation from society.
Characters to notice
Key passages
“I found a general principle of pigments and refraction—a formula, a geometrical expression involving four dimensions.”
Griffin discovered a mathematical principle that could alter how substances interact with light.
Griffin explains the theoretical breakthrough that led to his invisibility research.
“I robbed the old man—robbed my father. The money was not his, and he shot himself.”
Griffin stole money from his father, which led to his father's suicide.
Griffin confesses the desperate and tragic act that funded his experiments.
