SCIENCE ABUSE AS A THREAT TOWARDS THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF UTOPIAN COMMUNITY IN
H.G WELLS’S
THE INVISIBLE MAN
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
H. Agung Prasetyo
994214152
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS
SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
Life ends when you stop
Dreaming…
Hope is lost when you stop
Believing …
And love fails when you stop
Caring…
God cares and never fails
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, my biggest thanks go to my savior and merciful Lord for His
blessing and endless love so that I could finally finish writing this thesis. His
gracious love has been the greatest power particularly in the hard times. I also
need to thank Him for his abundant love that grants me a wonderful life, good
friends and a beautiful family around me.
I am very indebted to Dra. A.B. Sri Mulyani, M.A. as my advisor for the
valuable suggestions, guidance, ideas, inputs, patience, and time during my
undergraduate thesis writing up to the end. I would like to thank Drs. Hirmawan
Wijanarko, M.Hum, my co-advisor who has corrected and revised my thesis. I
wish them luck in their services and may God bless them. I wish to thank all
lecturers in Department of English Letters who have given me the education
during my study at Sanata Dharma University . My thankful expression goes to
the secretariat, especially Mba Nik for helping me with the administration,
services and for helping me to meet my advisor at any time for consultation.
This thesis is dedicated to my parents, ST Semiyono in heaven and C.H
Sri rejeki, who always give me prayers, care, and everything I need. My
gratitude also goes to my sister , Mba In and my little brother Adi, for their
support and prayers.Thank you for my be loved, Anique, who always pray and
support me to finish my thesis.
H. Agung Prasetyo
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE………i
APRROVAL PAGE……….………...ii
ACCEPTANCE PAGE……….……...iii
MOTTOPAGE………...iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……….………..… v
TABLE OF CONTENTS………..…..vi
ABSTRACT………...vii
ABSTRAK………...viii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION………..1
A.
Background of the Study……….………….1
B.
Problem Formulation……….………...3
C.
Objectives of the Study……….3
D.
Definition of Terms………...………4
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW………...5
A.
Review of Related Studies………5
B.
Review of Related Theories………..7
1. Theory of Character and Characterization………7
2. Theory of Moral Philosophy………...…13
3. Deviance Behavior……….………..15
a. The Physical Environment and Physical Organism………15
b. Society, Social Structure and Social Conflict as Source of Explanation of
Deviant Behavior………...……....16
c. Specific Social Structural Variable as Source of Explanation of Deviant
Behavior………...…………..16
d. Subculture as an Explanation of Deviant Behavior………...……17
e. Social Interaction as Source of Explanation of Deviant Behavior……….17
4. The relation between Literature and Morality………18
5. Utopia……….19
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY………...…21
A. Object of the Study……….………..21
B. Approach………....22
C. Method of the Study………...22
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS………...24
A. The Science Abuse in Wells’s The Invisible Man……….…24
B. The Science Abuse Threatens the Utopia Society of Iping………...38
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION……….……….….48
ABSTRACT
H. AGUNG PRASETYO (2007). Science Abuse as a Threat toward the
Establishment of Utopian Community in H.G. Wells’s
The Invisible Man
.
Yogyakarta: Department of English Letter, Faculty of Letters .Sanata Dharma
University.
This thesis analyzes The Invisible Man, a novel by H.G. Wells. The analysis
focuses on the science abuse as committed by Griffin, the fierce character in the
novel. There are two problems that become the basis of the thesis. Firstly, to examine
the science abused as reflected in The Invisible Man. Secondly, to see how the
science abuse imposes threat toward the development of the utopian society.
Library research was conducted to gain the clear answer for both problems.
The information and source were gained from some reference books and studies of
H.G.Wells. Internet source become the additional source of the thesis. The writer uses
the moral philosophical approach to discuss both thesis problems since it deals with
the moral aspect and support in the analysis of the thesis.
Based on the analysis, the writer obtains two conclusions. Firstly, because of
moral insufficiency Griffin uses his invention for the unfavorable purposes. Instead of
giving advantages to the society, the invention leads to disasters. Griffin uses his
invisibility to reap his personal interest, such as to rob or to steal. He uses the
invisibility to create horror in the society. He attacks or kills people who threaten
him. In addition, he makes fun of other’s fear by throwing stuffs to the people who do
not know his existence. Secondly, the invention of the invisibility poses threat to the
development of the society. The Iping community, which is considered to be a
utopian society, undergoes imbalance condition upon the coming of the invisible
man. It becomes the place of horror. People are afraid and there is possibility that the
rule is being violated.
ABSTRAK
H. AGUNG PRASETYO (2007). Science Abuse as a Threat toward the
Establishment of Utopian Community in H.G. Wells’s
The Invisible Man
.
Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Dharma.
Skrpsi ini menganalisis sebuah novel yang berjudul The Invisible Man, yang
merupakan karya H.G Wells. Analisis ini menitikberatkan pada permasalahan
panyalahgunaan ilmu pengetahuan yang dilakukan oleh tokoh utama dalam novel
tersebut yang bernama Griffin. Permasalahan penelitian pertama yang dianalisis
adalah penyalahgunaan ilmu pengetahuan seperti yang digambarkan dalam The
Invisible Man. Selanjutnya, peneliti akan menganalisa apakah penyalahgunaan ilmu
pengetahuan dapat mengancam penciptaan masyarakat utopia.
Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk dapat menjawab dengan jelas kedua
permasalahan penelitian. Informasi dan sumber yang diperoleh berasal dari buku
referensi dan beberapa study mengenai H.G. Wells. Sumber tambahan dalam skripsi
ini juga diperoleh dari sumber internet. Peneliti menggunakan pendekatan filsafat
moral untuk menjawab permasalahan skripsi karena terkait dengan aspek moral; dan
dapat mendukung analisis dalam skripsi ini.
Berdasarkan pada analisis yang dilakukan, peneliti dapat menarik dua
kesimpulan. Pertama, karena moral yang kurang baik. Griffin menggunakan
penemuannya untuk tujuan yang merugikan. Penelitian yang dilakukan tidak
memberi manfaat, tetapi justru menyebabkan kekacauan. Griffin menggunakan
kondisi tubuhnya yang tidak kasat mata untuk meraih keuntungan pribadi, seperti
merampok atau mencuri. Dia menggunakan kondisi tersebut untuk menciptakan
ketakutan di tengah-tengah masyarakat. Dia menganiaya atau membunuh orang yang
mengancam dirinya. Selain itu, dia juga menikmati rasa takut yang dialami orang lain
dengan cara melempari benda-benda kepada mereka tanpa mereka tahu siapa yang
telah melakukannya. Selanjutnya, penemuan tubuh yang tidak kasat mata tersebut
juga mengancam terbentuknya masyarakat utopia. Masyarakat Iping, yang dianggap
sebagai masyarakat utopia, mengalami kondisi ketidakseimbangan setelah datangnya
laki-laki “tidak terlihat”. Iping menjadi tempat yang penuh ketakutan. Seluruh
masyarakat ketakutan dan kemungkinan, norma atau aturan dalam masyarakat dapat
terabaikan.
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
All literature has many things to offer. Through literature, people are
not only entertained but also informed. It also teaches individuals about the
lives in other times and other cultures. Writers of imaginative literature may
not specifically write about psychology, politics, morality, philosophy, and
religion, yet the reader can learn about these topics in their literary works
(Robert, 1983: 2).
Good literature should improve our understanding about life in the
world around us. For example, literature addresses various important matters
in human life such as love, hatred, war, survival, death, ambition, failure, etc.
Good literature also shows a good organization of idea in order that the reader
is easier to grasp the meaning of the words the author created Little (1960: 1).
A good sample of literary works which says something worth saying
is The Invisible Manby Herbert George Wells. It tells about the invisibility of
man, which is considered as a great invention in the science. Initially the
discovery was intended for the medication purpose, but eventually it turns to
be a misery for its inventor. Actually this discovery can be beneficial for
human kind. However, the application of the discovery has been misused so
Through the novel, Wells wants to provide the lesson for the readers.
It is implied that human being should be wise concerning the application of
science. Karl Jasper (1988: 625) in Is Science Evilcontends that ….”so far as
the well being of humanity is concerned, science needs guidance from other
sources. Science in itself is not enough”. It means that the science may contain
any corruption. Science can be used for criminal ends. Science may facilitate
man to steal, plunder, abuse, and kill.
This works also tells that science has no barriers. Griffin, the gifted
scientist in the novel, has changed the science into the device which is used to
pursue his own interest. The science is dangerous in the hand of amoral
person. The Invisible Man tells the reader the danger which results from the
separation of science from morality. The science works well in accordance to
its goals if the scientists are concerned with the morality in creating and
applying the scientific invention. Indeed, the morality is the foundation of any
realm, including in the scientific field.
Science has two potentials. The first potential is positive which means
that it helps to solve the problem in human life. In medication, for example,
Louis Pasteur discovered that certain viral disease can be eliminated by
vaccination. The second potential is negative, which means that it threats
human beings. The invention of guns machine, or atomic bomb are the
example of the negative potential of the scientific invention.
The theme of science in The Invisible Manleads to the argument that
this works, he illustrates the conflict between science and society and thus,
makes the works revolutionary and original in the history of literature. He
writes the area that is never explored before. Wells’ work is very significant
and through this work he shows that the imagination in the literature cannot be
limited. It is why Wells’ The Invisible Man becomes one of the novels which
merit analysis and the writer thinks that it is interesting to explore the novel as
it gives the reader the greater understanding of literary works.
B. Problem Formulation
Based on the above explanation, the researcher formulates the problems of the
research as follows;
1. How is the science abused in Wells’ The Invisible Man?
2. In what ways does the science threat the utopian society in Wells’ The
Invisible Man?
C. Objectives of the Study
On the bas is of the problem examined in this thesis, there are two
objectives of the research. The first objective is to describe the abuse in Well’s
The Invisible Man. The second objective is to illustrate the ways in which the
D. Definition of Terms
In analyzing this novel, there are two terms that are needed to be
clarified, and the definition of terms which are used in this study is given
below.
1. Utopia
Utopia is derived from 2 Greek words - "not" (ou) and "place" (topos)
which is meant "nowhere". Utopia, in its most common and general meaning,
refers to a perfect society that does not exist (yet), or that can never exist because
people are unable to reach perfection or endure tyranny forever. It has also been
used to describe actual communities founded in attempt to create such
community. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/wikipedia, accessed on September 12th
2005)
2. Character
Abrams defines the terms ‘character’ as ‘a person presented in dramatic or
narrative works who are interpreted by the readers as being endowed with
moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in what they say the dialog
and what the do the action” (1981: 21).
The terms ‘character’, as defined by Hornby, means ‘all the mental or
moral qualities that make a person, group, nation, etc different from others”
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
The study on the Wells’s The Invisible Man has been conducted by
Setyawan (2002). His thesis takes the main data from H.G. Wells’ The
Invisible Man. According to his analysis, the novel was about the ideal society
of the writer, which is abused by a rapid discovery. The researcher is
interested in those phenomena and decided to do an analysis in this subject.
The research applies library research technique with a descriptive qualitative
method. The purpose of this research is to find out the ideal community in
Wells perspective. The other purpose is to find out how science abuses the
ideal community. The researcher applies the sociological approach.
Sociological approach is used in explaining the conflict between Griffin, the
representative of science and society, and Wells’ attitude as social member.
He concluded that in The Invisible Man, Science does not contribute
very much to the development of Well’s ideal society. Society can still exist
and progress without science, as most utopist believe. The side effects are
proven to be fatal. Uncontrolled technological development threatens the
existence of the society. In the hand of careless people, the progress can turn
itself into a transgression.
He sated that Griffin invention of invisibility would be very beneficial
organs in a medical surgery and also help to find the precise place to be cut
that unnecessary cutting would not be done. Griffin has misused his invention.
He violates the morality by robbing his own father. One can never imagine
how it feels to rob and kill one’s own father and not to attend the funeral.
The Invisible Man, which owes an obvious debt to Frankenstein, is based
on one of the eternal themes of mankind and one of the perennial themes of
Science Fiction. First, it explores the nature of man by asking whether an
invisible man would still be bound by normal morality. Second, it develops the
theme of science as a two edged sword; after initially conveying great power,
scientific innovation turns on its wielder, driving him mad. One hundred years
later, this ambivalence about technology and scientific progress has remained a
central part of our culture. As in all of the best books of the genre he helped to
create, Wells combines these speculations with an exciting, fanciful tale. He and
Verne truly set their successors a lofty standard to aspire towards
(www.BrotherJudd.com).
Martin in Harvest of Changemakes a comment concerning the brilliant
Wells “ He was an inexperienced genius who could sit at home and with nothing
but his wonderful brain and his wonderful induction from recorded things, builds
up the truest and most convincing picture of war” (Martin, 1966: 60). Wells could
create a genuine story without having any experience with the event.
West in H. G. Wells has made review on The Invisible Man. West stated
that although Wells admires science very much, he refuses the proposition that an
application. A good society does not always have to rely on science. Science is
important and useful but it still has to get along well with morality. If it fails to do
so, the ideal community will not be likely achieved (West, 1958: 125).
Social shock happens in The Invisible Man because science collides with
morality. Turbulence occurs because the balance in Iping, the ideal community, is
in trouble. When the balance is regained and after the invisible was arrested, the
potential for an ideal community returns. Wells describes that potential in Iping.
Those criticisms above both explain about how science is useful and
hazard if it is applied in daily life. This study will only discuss about how the
science is abused in Wells’ The Invisible Man. How Griffin applies his invention
of invisibility in a wrong way. The writer agrees with West’s study that
concerns about how the science is important and useful but still has to get along
well with morality. Moreover, the writer will discuss further about how science is
abused and in what ways does the science threat the utopian society in Well’s The
Invisible Man.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory of Character and Characterization
There are a number of definitions about characters and characterization.
Character can be viewed in psychological perspective. Allport in “Personality: a
psychological interpretation” explain that character is personality evaluated and
personality is character devaluated (1937: 52). He considers that character and
will be used if one would like to give appraisal or evaluation, while the term
personality is used when there is no appraisal. So personality, for Allport, is just
giving a description.
Rohrberger and Woods sate that “character have an important role in a
story since they help the readers participate vicariously in the experience o the
story by sharing imaginatively the feelings or the activities of the characters in the
story” (1971: 19). It means that a character is the important feature in the novel
and without a character, a novel is worthless.
Rohrberger and Woods also define that the word “Characterization” as the
process of by which an author creates character, the devices by which he makes us
believe character is the particular type of person he is” (1971: 20)
According Mary and Samuel Woods, Characterization is the author’s
process in creating a character. The author can use direct or dramatic method to
identify a character. Direct means describe physical appearance. He or she can
describe how weight the character is, how tall the character is, etc. dramatic
method means that the author places the character’s situations to show her or his
personality from the way she or he behave or speaks (1971: 20)
Jeremy Hawthorn says that characterization is defined by what the
characters do, by what they say and by the setting in which they move. The
character also defined in part by other characters (1992:19)
Barnett in his book Literary for Composition says that the character is the
cause of the events that happen in a story since he has his character traits and he
some points to be considered to see someone’s character. The character can be
seen from what he or she says, what he or she does and what other character says
about him or her: here the other’s opinion about him or her adds information and
clear description about her, what others do: their action may help indicate what he
or she could do but does not do.
Alternbernd and Lewis (1966: 56) define a character as a representation of
a person, while Kennedy (1987: 73) defines it as an imagined person who inhabits
a story. Forster classifies characters into two types, flat and round, depending on
whether the author sketches or sculptures. A flat character has only one trait or
feature and is easily recognized as stereotypes: the shrewish wife, the lazy
husband, the miser, or the stepmother. It is called flat due to the fact that the
reader can only see one side of him/her. A round character has more facets. It has
multiple personality traits and therefore resembles real people. Kenney (1966: 28)
says that the round character is more lifelike than the flat one. It is also much
harder to understand and describe than the flat one. Edward Pixley (Griffith, 1990:
80) adds that when flat characters dominate the play, the excitement of the plot
emerges from external conflicts; the focus is on action. Meanwhile when the play
includes round characters, the excitement of the plot emerges from internal
conflict; the focus is on characterization.
Characters can also be categorized into static and dynamic. Static or fixed
characters remain the same throughout a story. Suwito (2002: 14) states that static
characters have constant and undeveloped attitudes and characters from the
who experience personality alteration and developmental in accordance with the
development and alteration of events and plot told. Dynamic or developing
character change or develop in personality or grow to a new awareness of life.
Characters are the people in dramatic or narrative work, who are interpreted by
the reader as being endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are
expressed in what they say, the dialogue and by what they do, the action (Abrams,
1981: 20). By this means that readers may interpret characters subjectively.
Furthermore, according to the function or position of the characters in the
work, Potter (1967: 6 -22) in Suwito (2002) divides characters into several kinds.
There are main and peripheral characters, protagonist and antagonist characters,
etc. The main characters are the most important characters in the story. Suwito
(2000: 12) says that the main characters are very important in determining plot
development because they are the most told about and are always related the other
characters. Meanwhile, peripheral characters are characters of less importance
than the main ones (Koesnosoebroto, 1988: 67 via Suwito. 2000: 12). The
peripheral characters are showed just once or a few times in the story.
The chief character in a work, on which our interest centers, is called the
protagonist and if he or she is pitted against an important opponent, that character
is called the antagonist (Abrams, 1985: 139). The protagonists are not always the
winners. The relation between protagonist and antagonist is one of conflicts.
There may be, however, the conflict of a protagonist against fate, or against the
works, the conflict is between opposing desires or values in the protagonist
temperament.
Lagos Egri (1946: 36-37) suggests three dimensions to appraise a
character. They are physiology, sociology and psychology.
a. In physiology, the aspects of characterization are sex, age, height and
weight, color of hair, eyes, skin, posture, appearance, defects and heredity.
b. When a character is viewed, his or her sociology should also be considered
which involves class. Occupation, education, home-lige, religion, race,
nationality, place in community, political affiliation, amusements and
hobbies.
c. The third dimension is about the characters’ psychology. It includes sex
life, moral standard, personal premise, ambition, frustrations, chief
disappointment, temperament, attitude toward life, complexes, extrovert,
introvert or ambivert, abilities, qualities and IQ.
Characters are people in the drama. Sometimes, as in fantasy fiction, the
characters are not people, they may be animals, or robots or creatures from outer
space, but the author gives them human abilities and human psychological traits.
Thus they are really people in all but outward form.
Characterization is the author’s presentation and development of a
character. Characterization is obvious description of the characters in the drama as
seen in their attitude, behavior, the way of thinking, of life, environment, habit,
There are two methods of characterization, expository and dramatic. In
expository method of characterization, the author tells his readers about his
characters or one of his characters tells about another character. Kenney mentions
expository method of characterization as discursive method, while Semi (1988:
39) mentions it as the analytical method and Altenbernd calls it as narrative
method.. In dramatic method, the author allows his character to reveal themselves
to the readers through their own words and actions. The characterization is
conveyed in three ways, through the choice of character’s name, through the
character’s physical and personal description and through dialogue.
According to M. J, Murphy (1972: 161-171), there are nine ways of
character analysis which author attempt to make his character understandable, and
come alive for his readers. These nine ways of characterization are:
1. Personal description
Here, the author can describe the person appearance and clothes.
2. Speech
The author can give the reader ‘an insight into the characters of the persons in the
story through what a person says’ (ibid. 164).
3. Characters as seen by another
It is another way to describe a character through the eyes and opinions of other
people in the novel.
4. Reactions
Here the reader will know a person’s character by seeing at how a person reaches
5. Conversation of others
It is the way the author gives the reader clues to a person’s character through the
conversations of other people in the story and things they say about him.
6. Past life
It is the way to know a person’s character by looking at his/her past life.
7. Thought
The reader will be able to know a person’s character through what this character is
thinking about.
8. Mannerism
Here, the author describes a person’s mannerism, and habits which may also tell
us about his character.
9. Direct Comment
The reader will know a person’s character through the author’s direct comment.
2. Theory of Moral Philosophy
Garner says that art is essentially and primarily moral that is, life is giving
moral in it’s process of creation and moral in what it says. He also says that the
‘good for man, which rightly understood cannot be divorced from what is good
for his society and environment, is by another formulation (whenever action of
called for) the moral”. Morality is the body or engine of the Good. The Good is
form: morality is function or at any rate form can no more exist independent of
For most people morals are sets of rules that we ought to obey, they tell us
what is right or wrong (www.philosopher.org.uk/index.htm). Moral philosophers
want to discover how these roles are justified, and at the consequences of moral
and ethical beliefs. The most outstanding moral philosopher may be Immanuel
Kant. Kant's moral system is based on rationality. It attempts to show how any
rational being would agree to universal moral laws For Kant, morality is a matter
of duty. The most part of morality is concerning the system of right and obligation
that structure interpersonal relationship (Nelson, 1991: 39).
Hobbes stated that the interactions among individuals are regulated by social
rules. He thinks that it is essential for people to live with the agreement with the
others (Nelson, 1991: 74). Hobbes has made some point stating the usefulness of
social rule. Hume emphasize that the advantage of role is the establishment of
justice in the society and that the rules only exist when they benefit everyone. As
a result, justice requires members of society follow the shared rules.
The theory of moral can also be explained with theory about human
motivation & behavior, which is called physical egoism. It is an explanation of
why men act the way they do. The other theory is Ethical egoism which sets forth
a standard for determining how men ought to act. The physical egoist tells s what
3. Deviance behavior
The novel is concerned with the notion of deviance behavior. The
writer thinks that the motive behind the deed committed by the main character
need an explanation from the relevant theories. One of such theories is deviant
behavior theory. Deviance may include all action considered immoral or bad
in society. Douglas and Waksler (1982: 9) in The Sociology of Deviance
define deviance as “any thought, feeling or action that member of a social
group judge to be a violation of their values or rules. With this definition
Douglas and Waksler recommend that in their definition of deviance, it is
value or rule violation perceived by member of a social group that determine
what constitutes deviance. The followings are the factor of the deviance
behavior, explained with various kinds of perspectives.
a. The Physical Environment and Physical Organism.
In general, the theory views the physical environment as the cause of
human behavior. For centuries, the heavenly bodies, geography and climate
were seen as particularly important environment determinants of human
action (Douglas and Waksler, 1982: 31). The main idea of the physical
environment was that geography and climate are major determinants of human
b. Society, Social Structure and Social Conflict as Source of Explanation of Deviance Behavior
Douglas and Waksler (1982) also highlight the society, social structure
and social conflict as the explanation of deviance behavior. At the first place,
they reviewed the structural theory as they thought that the sociological theory
made its own contribution to the understanding of deviance as a social
phenomenon. The theory states that social constrain is necessary to prevent
deviance because human nature, whatever it is specifically, will lead to
deviance when unconstrained. Furthermore, the source of such constraint is
society itself. Reviewing the thought of Emile Durkheim, they stated that
society is a moral phenomenon, by which he [Durkheim] meant that society in
its most fundamental and important aspect is a set of morals (values and laws)
that individuals are taught as children to accept and that they then use
throughout their lives to determine what is right and wrong, what they should
do and should not do in a certain situation.
c. Specific Social Structural Variable as Source of Explanation of Deviant Behavior
Douglas and Waksler (1982: 73) begin the discussion of the social
structural variable with the notion of social disorganization. For him, social
disorganization may be the source of the personal crisis. In facing the crisis,
some people cannot find their own solution. For these people, the crisis leads
Cavan, a sociologist, explained why only some people become deviant by
recognizing the independence of individual social behavior. The theory that
social disorganization is a major cause of personal disorganization led to a
great number of studies of mental illness.
d. Subculture as an explanation of Deviant Behavior
The main point of sub cultural theory is that different and conflicting
theory may exist within a society (Douglas and Waksler, 1982: 90). When one
part of society is able to establish rules that apply to everyone; other parts
come to be labeled deviant. Beginning with Sutherland, sociologist came to
know that crime and other forms of deviance in many different varieties may
require different kinds of explanation
One of the other works in concerning the concept of subcultures and
its use in explaining deviance was Thornsten Sellin’s Culture Confict and
Crime(1938). Sellin made use of anthropological source to show that in many
societies the law defining what a crime is and what is not are enacted and
enforced by more powerful minority groups over the wishes and values of less
powerful group.
e. Social Interaction as Source of Explanation of Deviant Behavior
According to social interaction theory, social action is the result of
complex interaction among individuals and group in society (Douglas and
individuals. The social interaction theory derives from symbolic interaction
theory. Symbolic interaction emphasizes a share symbols, especially values, in
any social group. These symbols are used to interpret meanings and actions
done by the members of the society.
Social interaction theories have helped make the study of deviance in
many ways the most theoretically innovative field in sociology. Theorists no
longer limit themselves to the study of illegal behavior and have greatly
expanded the range of topics that they study as instances of deviance.
However, Symbolic interactionism has been criticized both by structuralists.
The objection said that the theory fails to consider the larger feature of the
social world that influences social behavior, such as class, economic structure
and societal organization. Some argue that symbolic interactionism can deal
with the larger features of the social world, but only after the interactional
dimension is fully understood.
D. The relation between Literature and Morality
According to Guerrin, the function of literature is to teach morality and
to probe philosophical issues. The reader would interpret literature within a
context of the philosophical thought of period of group (1979: 29). Gardner
says that “literature as an art is essentially and primarily moral that is life
giving” (1978: 15). On the other hand, he says that literary works, such as
novel, may contain some moral values reflected from human life and
work of art, which contains moral lesson provide values and rouse trustworthy
feeling about the best and the worst in human action (1978: 19). This means
through out literary works, the reader can obtain moral as the lesson by
understanding the content, in consequence, it is meaningful for human beings.
Matthew and Arnold quoted from Guerrin, the Victorian ethic, states
that great literary work must posses “high seriousness” in each instance. The
critic working from a moral bent is not unaware of firm, figurative language,
and other purely aesthetic consideration but they also added that the importing
thing is the moral or philosophical teaching (1979: 30)
E. Utopia
The term utopia was first proposed by Thomas More. He was inspired by
monastical life when he described the workings of his society. His book has high
popularity that the term utopia became a by word for ideal concepts, proposals,
societies etc. Therefore for every author who proposes a utopia, it usually involves
criticisms of many evils in the world, and all these evils will disappear in his
imaginary society. The things outlined in the utopia are usually radical,
revolutionary, inspirational, or speculative.
Utopia is derived from 2 Greek words - "not" (ou) and "place" (topos)
which is meant "nowhere". Utopia, in its most common and general meaning,
refers to a perfect society that does not exist (yet), or that can never exist because
It has also been used to describe actual communities founded in attempt to
create such community (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/wikipedia, accessed on
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The object of the study is the novel The Invisible Man written by
Herbert George Wells. It was first published in Great Britain by Collins Clear
– Type Press in 1897 and the latest reprint in 1959. In The Invisible Man,
Wells works out the theme that nothing is gained without a corresponding
loss. Griffin, the medical student, discovers how to make himself invisible;
however as a result, he loses his sanity. The novel is a cautionary tale,
warning that a person's intellectual achievement must still contend with more
primitive drives. The Invisible Man is also a social comedy, inviting laughter
as the rural population of Sussex responds to the "strange man" all "wrapped
up from head to foot."
The novel, The Invisible Man is a tale of suspense that focuses on a
insane medical student, Griffin, who has discovered how to make people
invisible. Because of his madness and invisibility, griffin poses a special
threat to the community. He can steal from people and assault them as if he
were a ghost. As the police close in on him, he becomes more desperate and
B. Approach of the Study
The study adopts sociological and philosophical approach, particularly
moral philosophy. The moral philosophical approach was adopted to address
the question about the science abused committed by Griffin, the main
character in Wells’ The Invisible Man. The moral philosophy contains
concepts which the writer considered as appropriate to explain the motive
behind the science abused. The sociological approach was used to analysis
how the science abuse could be very harmful for the development of the
society. Principally, science has two potentials. The first potential is positive
which means that it helps to solve the problem in human life. In medication,
for example, Louis Pasteur discovered that certain viral disease can be
eliminated by vaccination. The second potential is negative, which means that
it threats human beings. The invention of guns machine, or atomic bomb are
the example of the negative potential of the scientific invention.
C. Method of the Study
This study took the form of library research, which employed the
descriptive techniques, whereas the method of collecting data is qualitative.
The researcher obtained the data from the novel The Invisible Man by H.G.
Wells published by Buccaneer Books, Inc, NY. 1985. The data from the novel
was in the form of quotations, author’s remarks and narration relevant to the
criticism, reviews, comments, author’s biography and other supporting
material related to the study.
The process of data analysis was achieved through identifying how is
the science abused in Wells’ The Invisible Man and then analyzing in what
ways does the science threat the utopian society in Wells’ The Invisible Man.
From the process of data analysis above, the writer finally reveals how the
science is abused and in what ways does the science threat the utopian society
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
The purposes of the paper as stated in the previous chapter are to describe
on how the science is abused in Wells’s The Invisible Man and in what ways
does the science threat the utopian society in Wells’s The invisible Man. This
chapter is devoted to answer the questions.
A. The Science Abuse in Wells’s The Invisible Man
The Wells’ The Invisible Man is concerned with the invisibility of
human existence. It particularly tells about the science abuse. It is due to the
fact that the scientific invention is developed for the undesirable purposes.
Griffin, a college student, makes the experiment to himself using the principle
of invisibility. He succeeds in transforming his body into an invisible
condition. His unprecedented invention has initially made him proud of
himself. With his new ‘appearance’, he has to get accustom to doing
everything he has never done before. He finds himself in trouble of eating food
in the first time as he is not able to see himself. Even more, he makes up his
mind with a great deal of plans- largely pursuing his own interest.
It is clear that the power and freedom become the motivation behind the
invention. Griffin believes that his invisibility is the way from which he gains
power. A freedom, particularly financial freedom, is possibly the intention of
the invention application. Griffin thinks that using this invisibility condition
just a magic. Certainly, invisibility means many things to human. Particularly it
gives power and freedom which allow him to reap the goals in his life.
“To do such a thing would be to transcend magic and I beheld, unclouded by doubt, a magnificent vision of all that Invisibility might mean to a man. The mystery, the power, the freedom. (p.140).
The quest for wealth is the motivation of being invisible. It is stated in the
story that Griffin lives in the disadvantaged condition. He takes a room in
London, a large unfurnished room in a big, ill-managed lodging house in a slum
near Great Portland Street. He does not even have milk for the cat with which
he experiments. Before conducting his experiment, he is described as an
ordinary person living with other family.
Actually, Griffin is not really a nice person. He is a man of unfriendly
personality. It may be as a result of his dislikes to be scrutinized. With his queer
appearance after conducting the experiment with himself, it is no doubt that; he
doesn’t want to make a long contact with other. He is rather rough when
addressing Mr. Henfrey who tries to talk to him. He wants Mr. Henfrey only for
work and never speaks to him. He roughly asks Mr. Henfrey to go
immediately.
‘Why don’t you finish and go? Said the rigid figure, evidently in a state of painfully suppressed rage. “All you’ve to do is to fix the hour hand on its -axle. You’re simply humbugging. (P.33)
His rough personality soon appears in way he releases his anger. He is used to
But once there was a concussion and a sound of bottle ringing together, as though the table had been hit and the smash of glass flung violently down and then a rapid pacing athwart the room. (p.41)
Griffin is hardly controlling his temper. When this happens he likes to shout or
torture other people.
He is also indifferent. He is a sort of man who does not value the
emotional relationship among the member of a family. He does not seem to c are
about the nature of traditional relationship between father and son that should
be respected. Instead, he indirectly kills his own father and fails to attend his
funeral.
“Money,” said the Invisible Man and went again to stare out of the window.He turned round abruptly, “I robbed the old man- robbed my father. (p.140).
Because of the money, Griffin commits the murder of his father. Killing his
father, Griffin does not feel sorry at all. Instead, he blames his father for being
weak. It is his weakness that leads them into the decision to suicide. As he is
indifferent with the life of his father, Griffin decides not to attend his father’s
funeral. He states:
“I did not feel a bit sorry for my father. He seemed to me to be the victim of his own foolish sentimentality. The current cant required my attendance at his funeral, but it was really not my affair. (p. 142).
The explanations above suggest that the destruction of morality by science
involve the damage of relationship in the family. Griffin’s robbing his own
father obviously shows the beginning of crime between family members. This
be involved in the physical duel against their parent even perhaps in argument.
Griffin’s case is new and insane. He does not seem to care about the affective
nature of family members’ relationship.
Kempt, the close friend of Griffin describes his character. Kemp states
that Griffin is inhuman and selfish. He only cares for his safety. To gain his
safety, he may harm other people, threatening them using knife or gun.
“He is mad” said Kemp; ‘inhuman. He is pure selfishness. He thinks of nothing but his own advantage, his own safety. I have listened to such a story this morning of brutal self-seeking….he wounded men. He will kill them unless we can prevent him. He will create a panic. Nothing can stop him. He is going out now- furious (p. 187).
Whenever he goes, there is always a terror developing and people are warned to
be aware of his presence.
As the family member of his landlord suspect him for the vivisection,
Griffin easily finds a way to escape. Even, he troubles them by hitting them and
firing their house. It happens that the landlord’s family member brake the door
and come to his room as he does not want to see them. Instead of finding him,
those poor men are violently hit by the invisible man. Griffin, in his anger, hit
them on the face. “I was half-minded to hit his silly countenance, but I arrested
my doubled fist” (p.151.). After hitting his landlord’s family members,
Griffin want to cover his trail, by putting the house into a fire.
It shows that the mean Griffin takes to protect himself induces the dangerous
act, not only for him, but also for other people. Being invisibility, Griffin hits
those poor men and burns their house. Those poor men are left “in horror” and
do not know what happen to them as this invisibility never crosses their mind.
After escaping from the siege, Griffin always plans to take revenge to
those who do not him. The ways he takes the revenge are often life-threatening,
vicious, and brutal to show how powerful he is. It is intended to remind people
not to challenge him. It is true when he escaping from Kemp’s house and
subsequently he sends a letter telling Dr. Kemp that he will take revenge.
The man’s become inhuman, I tell you”, said Kemp. “I am sure he will establish a reign of terror – so soon as he has got over the emotions of this escape- (p. 189).
The letter he writes to Dr. Kemp clearly shows his anger for he considers Dr.
Kemp has betrayed him.
You are against me. For a whole day you have chased me – you have tried to rob me of a night’s rest. But I have had food in spite of you, I have spelt in spite of you and the game is only begin ning. There is nothing for it but to start the Terror. This announces the first day of the Terror. ….The first day there will be one execution for the sake of example - a man named Kemp. Death starts for him to-day. He may lock himselfaway, hide himself away, get guards about him, put an armour of he likes – Death, the unseen Death, is coming. … (p .196)
Griffin often lost his humanity as a result of his selfishness. He pursues his own
interest. He, for example, hurt a child near Dr. Kempt’s house when he tries to
The invisible man seems to have rushed out of Kemp's house in a state of blind fury. A little child playing near Kemp’s gateway was violently caught up and thrown aside, so that its ankle was broken.. (P. 190).
From the above discussion, it is obvious that Griffin is seen as having
negative personality traits. He is not only fierce but also mean. He is so
demanding that everyone has the trouble to help him. They feel uneasy, forced
and afraid. More often, his friend fails to do him a favor.
In the process of the experiment, Griffin has committed some certain
crime. He spends the three years in a difficult condition to complete his work.
At the end of the third year, he finds it impossible to complete his work for he
lacks of financial support. Due to the lack of money, he tries to find a way to
afford his experiment- of course with the evil deed. He robed his own father
although he knows that the money does not belong to his father. This leads his
father into a deep suffering. At the end, Griffin’s father dies, killing himself. “I
robbed the old man- robbed my father. ...The money was not his and he shot
himself” (p. 140).
It is revealed in the story that before applying to himself, he makes this
experiment with a cat. Although it is not his cat, he surely feels that he can use
the cat to make the experiment.
What Wells emphasizes is that a progress of one side can be a regress on the
other. It happens that the progress of human invention can be the regress for
animal. To the cat Griffin experiment with, his success of making it invisible is
a disaster, a regress. Invisibility gave the cat nothing; mice rely in smell not
vision. So being invisible does not help it at all. Instead, because of its
invisibility, the cat was endangered.
The invisible man lets the cat wander at large. He thinks that it is not his
responsibility to care for it. He does not even give it milk to drink. Two
floating eyeballs and meows invited people to go after it and its life may be
ended by time it was caught.
“It’s very probably been killed” said the Invisible Man. “It was alive four day after, I know and down grating in Great Tichfield Street, because I saw a crowd round the place trying to see whence the miaowing came” (p.146)
The scientific invention may become the tool of unacceptable mean as a result
of the political interest behind it. Along with the political interest on the part of
the user, the scientific misuses might be compounded by the lack of morality.
I was invisible, and I was only just beginning to realize the extraordinary advantage my invisibility gave me. My head was already tee ming with plans of all the wild and wonderful things I had now impunity to do. (p. 153).
After implementing the experiment, Griffin finds it exciting to be invisible. His
mind is wandering to find any advantages he could reap with the invisibility. He
plants many things he wants without having been recognized by people. With
on Whit Monday, the day devoted in Iping to the Club festivities. The crime is
first recognized by Mrs. Bunting- she is awake by the sound of foot stepping.
As soon as she is assured of the deed, she arouses Mr. Bunting. Armed himself
with a weapon, Mr. Bunting is ready to catch the criminal in the act. Mr.
Bunting goes to the source of the sound. He sees the desk and the opens drawer
and a candle burning on the desk, but he cannot see the robber. Both Mr.
Bunting and his wife hear the chink of money and realize that the robber finds
the housekeeping reserve of gold –two pounds ten in half sovereign altogether.
Mr. Bunting rushes into the room to find the robber, but apparently the room is
perfectly empty. They search everywhere but they see that back door is just
opening and the faint light or early dawn displays the dark masses of the garden
beyond. He is certain that nothing go out of the door. It opens but no ones
passes through the window. Suddenly, the door closes with a slam. Both are
very curious with this incidence, as if a man passes through the door but he is
invisible. The movement of the door should be done by Griffin, the invisible
man as he is the only suspected one. He must leave the vicarage with the money
he steals.
Griffin robs when he has the time to do so. He enters not only the
wealthy persons but also those who are poor. From the condition of his victim
house, he should know that it is awful to rob them. He found that the house is
very old and tumbledown, damp. The paper in the attics was peeling from the
walls and rat-infested. Most of the door handles were stiff. Several rooms he
nothing in the house but the old clothes. The poor man who owns the house
does not know the stories about the invisible man. As a result, when he heard
the sound in his house he thinks that it was a rat. He never knows that one enter
his house to rob his money for he has nothing valuable. Instead, he thinks that it
may be the rat as usual.
My plants were now perfectly definite. I proposed to make my way into the house, secrete myself upstairs, watch my opportunity and when everything was quiet, rummage out a wig, mask, spectacles, and costume, and go into the world, perhaps a grosteque but still a creditable figure. And, incidentally, of course, I could rob the house of any available money. P. 171).
He plans the robbery perfectly. He waits until the opportunity comes to him so
that he manages to enter the house easily. The Invisible man tells to Dr. Kemp
how he enters into one’s house secretly. Although he is invisib le, the movement
of his body make sounds that people near him is curious. The Invisible man
knock the owner’s of the house on his head without knowing who hits him and
makes him go downstairs. The purpose of entering the house is simple - that he
had to get out of the house in a disguise without anyone seeing him. The effort
to merely look natural has made Griffin hurt the person who appears curious of
his presence. Although he is invisible, it does not mean that he can make things
easily. In contrast, he has to adapt himself with certain thing which leads to
undesirable result. He is frequently trapped in a difficult situation. For example,
he is inadvertently locked in the room or that someone unintentionally hit him.
These things make him loose his temper and subsequently he makes effort to
a thousand ways- scraps of paper thrust under doors would suffice. And all who
disobey his order he must kill and kill all who would d efend them” (p. 184).
Griffin creates a horror in the society. Due to his invisibility, he feels that
he can control the other. For example, Mr. Marvel finds himself under the
control of the invisible man, he cannot escape. “Don’t knock me a bout any
more. And Leave me go…And you’ve pretty near broken my toe”. To these, the
invisible man responds “Pull yourself together for you have to do the job I’ve
chosen for you….An Invisible Man is a man of power” (p.81).
The invisible man entirely controls over the situation when a group of
men try to catch him for the charge of burglary. In defending himself, he uses
his invisibility to give a frightful blow on the Mr. Wagne’s nose, strike the jaw
of Mr. Jaffer, the village constable and break the teeth of Mr. Pipps, the
Unitarian. Of course, those poor men are anxious as they do not know what to
do. The fight between the invisible man and the group of Iping men is fierce
and intense. It is told how the stranger slapped Jaffer’s face.
In another moment Jaffers, had fripped by the handless wrist and caught
his invisible throat. Hall sent the knife sliding along the table to Wadgers, whi
acted as goal keeper for the offensive and then stepped forwared as Jaffers and
the stranger swated and staggered toward him. Then, Mr. Hall received a
sounding kick in the ribes that disposed of him for a moment and Mr. Wadgers ,
seering the decapitated stranger had rolled over and got the upper side of
moment came three or four bottles from the chiffonier and shot a web of
pungency into the air of the room.
The invisible man also threatens Dr. Kemp who refuses to work with
him. He comes to Dr. Kemp’s house and messes it up. He breaks the glass of
the window to indicate his presence and to create horror to the people inside the
house. Griffin is involved in the series of murder although initially he does not
mean to do so. He, for example, murders Colonel Adye who is assuming
responsibility to protect the society’s member. Griffin kills Adye as he protects
Dr. Kemp, Griffin’s colleague. Soon after coming out from Dr. Kemp’s house,
a Voice –the invisible man’s voice- order him to come back in purpose of
enabling him to enter Dr. Kemp’s house for Griffin knows that all doors have
been locked. Initially, Adye refuses Griffin’s demand and they have a heavy
quarrel. At the end, the Invisible Man seizes Adye’s revolver and shoots him to
death.
People of Iping also suspect Griffin as the murderer of Mr. Wicksteed.
They think that the Invisible man may use an iron rod, pulled from a piece of
broken fence. Griffin stopped the quiet man, going quietly home to his midday
meal, attacke him, beat down his feeble defences, broke his arm, and smashes
his head. Of course, the victim fails to defend himself as he cannot see the
intruder.
Using his invisibility, Griffin also plays with other’s fear. In his
throws the object to the poor frightening watcher. No wonder, ones who see this
is frantic, if not afraid.
The bed-clothes gathered themselves together, leapt up suddenly into a sort of peak, and then jumped headlong over the bottom rail. It was exactly as if a hand had clutched them in the centre and flung them aside. Immediately after, the stranger’s (Griffin) hat hopped off the bedpost, described a whirling flight in the air through the better part of a circle, and then dashed straight at Mrs. Hall’s face. (p. 58)
Griffin also enjoys annoying people in the street. He believes that people to
whom he disturbs cannot see him so that he freely teases them. He loves to see
people in their confused condition to find out who has hit them. He also take the
pleasure to see people in a horror when finding out who he is. For example, he
shows he metamorphosed faced to Mrs. Hall. In front of her, he removes his
spectacle, takes his hat and looses his whiskers and bandage he uses to cover
his body in order that he could be seen as a person. Seeing this terrible and
awful appearance, Mrs. Hall faints away. Griffin also is annoying for many
people in the street whom he plays with. He pushes, jest or startle people in the
street.
I experienced a wild impulse to jest, to startle people, to clap them on the back, fling people’s hats astray, and generally revel in my extraordinary advantage. (p. 154)
Mrs. Hall hears the murmur of voices who she certainly thinks as the invisible
man. It is told that She hear a cry of surprise, a stirring of feet, a chair flung
aside, a bark of laughter, quick steps to the door but she could not see the
open palm over his face and withdrew it. The cent er of his face became a black
cavity.
Griffin also has the unrestricted freedom to take many items from the
store. It is told in the story how he enters the store right before it is closed and
stays there all night and enjoys the meal, drink and other merchandise kept in
the store.
And then I had a brilliant idea. I turned down one of the roads leading from Gower street to Tottenham Court Road, and found myself outside Omnium’s, the big establishment where everything is to be bought – you know the place: meat, grocery, linen, furniture, clothing, oil paintings even- a huge, meandering collection of shop rather than a shop (P. 162).
In the store, Griffin takes stockings and gloves. Then he also takes socks, a
lounge jacket, an overcoat and a slouch trouser, all of which he used to make
his appearance more reasonable. After taking the stuff, he feels as human being
again- he feels hungry and his thought is food. Then he came to a grocery
section with a lot of chocolate and crystallized fruit, mo re than was good for
him and finally he also took some white burgundy.
Griffin does not only take the stuff from the store, but he also makes a furious
attack to the owner of the store when he thinks he needs to do so.
I turned at the top step and swung round, plucked one out of a pile, and smashed it on his silly head as he came at me. The whole pile of pots went headling, and I heard shouting and footsteps running from all parts. I made a mad rush for the refreshment place, and there was a man in white like a man cook….
In short, there are tree ways in which Griffin applies his scientific
invention to the evil purposes- that is he pursues his own interest. Rather than
about himself. Firstly, he uses his invisibility to take over illegally the
ownership of other’s property, such as by robbing or stealing. Secondly, he uses
his invisibility to create the horror among the society – some people believe that
his coming is closely related with the existence of the spirits. Thirdly, some
individuals are threatened to be tortured or killed - particularly those who fail to
help him.
Griffin fails to be compliant with the ethics in the scientific wo rld. As
stated, there are four principles: scientific honesty, carefulness, intellectual
freedom and openness. Carefulness principle demands a scientist to avoid
careless errors or sloppiness in all aspect of scientific work. But his mean
intention has led Griffin to use the unauthorized agents
…. Strychnine is a grand tonic, Kemp, to take the flabbiness out of a man”.It’s the devil” said Kemp. “It’s the Paleolithic in a bottle” (p. 147).
Generally scientist reserves their research to their own. It is very
common in the scientific world. A researcher keeps his result in secret lest
someone will steal his work and publish it under their own name. A prestige is
at stake here. The case happens in the Invisible man. Griffin reserves his
research to himself to the same reason.
In reserving his invention, Griffin also smashes the apparatus. He is afraid that
if the peculiar radiator of his fell into the hands of some acute, well -educated
person. He will loose his opportunity to show his original invention.
B. The Science Abuse Threatens the Utopia Society of Iping
Iping is a small village in Sussex, England. It shares the characteristics of rural
areas such as in economy, politic, culture and social relationships among its
members. Economically, Iping depends on agriculture and small-scale trade.
The dependence on agriculture is seen through the fact that Iping is rural while
most industries are centered in big cities or ports like Liverpool and London. In
addition to trade, Iping is engaged in small home-industry and craftsmanship
such as clock mending or cart rent. There is not too much money in that
business. However it is sufficient to sustain it members’ daily needs. No one is
to rich or too poor in Iping.
Culturally Iping is peasantry. Peasant norm and values influence the position of
social relationship among its members. Since Iping’s residents are peasant, the
relationship among them is caring. There is no rigid social hierarchy in Iping.
Added to those characteristics, all of the member of Iping know and
communicate to one another very well. The Halls, for example, who live at one
point of Iping, know the Fearaneside or the Henfreys who live at another point
of the village. Religion also take part in making iping’s resident go along well.
Given the characteristics, people share, for example, strong sense of
secret. News is spread all over the Iping. So when a strange appears, the news
of his presence soon becomes the main topic of the villager’s conversation. It
will be boiling then if the stranger possesses a behavior or attitude to Iping’s
residents.
The stranger came in April, ordered a room and occupied himself with
piles of book and hundreds of bottle of chemical substances. At that moment, in
England, the prejudice was that the stranger committed the black magic. Rural
people of Iping may have a strong believe of superstitious thing that influences
their conduct. And when stranger came with the mys terious behavior, people
related his behavior with superstition and black magic. However, this belief
does not reduce the fact that they are basically friendly to stranger.
Urban people are usually intolerable to rural people. People from cities
generally consider village people stupid and naïve. Therefore they refuse to
adapt and adjust with the environment. The result is that the villagers do not
like them. This is what happens to the stranger: “Whatever they thought of him,
people of Iping, in the whole, agreed in disliking him. His irritability…was an
amazing thing to this quiet Sussex Villagers”. To Wells, their attitude is
understandable. Perhaps, Well’s perception is based on the proposition that man
should be capable of adapting himself to his changing environment. So should
the stranger. Iping people cannot take the blame if they dislike the stranger.
Some assume that Iping, like all the communities in Wells’ other works
Well’s idea of developing society. As a society it fulfills all the criteria for
moving toward utopia.
Iping is economically secured. Economic activities are not done simply
for gaining the highest profit, but it is done for the purpose of maintaining good
social relation and harmony. Everybody in Iping has his or her own business
enough to sustain life, although it is not too big in magnitude. What is more
relieving is that Iping’s economics is ‘friendly’ which means that economic
transaction in Iping tends to be familiar or personal rather than automatic like
that of big cities. The evidence of this can be seen in the quotation: “Now
you’re here Mr. Teddy”, she said,”I’d be glad if you’d give th’ old clock in the
parlor a bit of look..”. One can feel the spirit of the conversation. Although the
conversation is concerning a business, one can still find the politeness and
closeness between two parties.
Another example how authentic social behavior of Iping residents int erferes in
sphere of economic activity can be seen in Mrs. Halls response s toward her
guess:
“Mrs. Halls, nothing loath, answered his question and developed a conservation. It’s a step road by the down, sir,” ..there a carriage was unsettled..A gentleman..accidents happen in a moment…so that if I may make so bold to say it….”.
Mrs. Hall, the owner of the inn is very concerned, seeing that her guest gets is
bandaged all over. Thinking that perhaps the guest would share the story about
how he got such an awful accident she prompted a polite remark. It is very
will at least reduce their bad feeling for what they have gone through. Possibly
this was what encouraged Mrs. Hall to ask. Ho wever, she was stunned to
receive a snapping welcome and sharp answer. This is very uncommon in Iping
for a man to be bad tempered and rude like the stranger. Mrs. Halls was naïve.
But she had no intention to be rude. It was natural to ask someone how he o r
she got bandaged or accident in a village. Someone’s business can be
everybody’s concern.
Socially Iping is a perfect community. In this respect, Iping matches
very well with Wells’s ideal community. Wells dreams of a peaceful society. A
society set orderly with well working organ. Wells casts Dr. Kemp as the
representative of the intellectual person in the society. Wells describes Dr.
Kemp as a generous scientist in the utopian society. He suggests Griffin to
disclose his invention to the society.
Why dream of playing a game against the race? How can you hope to gain happiness? Don’t be a lone wolf. Publish your result – take the world- take the nation at least into your confidence. Think what you might do with a million helpers” (p. 184).
In addition, Wells introduces Bunting, the vicar, as the morality guard. This is
interesting, because Wells is very aware that intellectual world is always in a
tense against morality. So he tries to reduce the contradiction between two by
creating a balance between them. The Colonel plays as keeper of stability. As a
machine, each part of it works properly according to its role. The three work
together according to their capabilities. As the scientist, Kemp tries to
understand Griffin’s logic to decide what to do to deal with his action next.
the keeper of order gave a moral support on what Kempt does. The Colonel, as
the keeper of order does all he can by putting all his military men on the chase
of Griffin.
Iping is politically established. There is no political turbulence or
threat against stability since the responsible body, in the form of Colonel Adye,
function well. He is a sort of military leaders in Ipin g and considered to have
more experi
