The Invisible Man · Chapter
Mr. Teddy Henfrey's First Impressions explained
Teddy Henfrey, the clock-jobber, arrives at the Coach and Horses to repair the parlour clock and encounters the bandaged stranger.
What happens
Teddy Henfrey, the clock-jobber, arrives at the Coach and Horses to repair the parlour clock and encounters the bandaged stranger. The stranger's unsettling appearance and secretive manner disturb Henfrey, who later spreads suspicion about the guest to Mr. Hall. Mrs. Hall, though initially impressed by the stranger's claim of being an experimental investigator, grows uneasy, and Mr. Hall resolves to investigate further.
Themes in this chapter
Isolation and Alienation
The stranger's insistence on solitude and his bandaged, hidden appearance create a sense of alienation from the community.
Fear of the Unknown
Henfrey and the Halls are unsettled by the stranger's mysterious appearance and behavior, fueling suspicion and fear.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Teddy Henfrey
Clock-jobber who is unnerved by the stranger's appearance and spreads suspicion about him.
- Griffin
The bandaged stranger who claims to be an experimental investigator seeking solitude and explains his need for darkness due to eye problems.
- Mrs. Hall
Innkeeper who is initially impressed by the stranger's scientific claims but later feels uneasy and dreams of monstrous heads.
- Mr. Hall
Mrs. Hall's husband, who becomes suspicious after Henfrey's report and resolves to investigate the stranger.
Key passages
“My reason for coming to Iping ,” he proceeded, with a certain deliberation of manner, “was … a desire for solitude. I do not wish to be disturbed in my work. In addition to my work, an accident—” “I thought as much,” said Mrs. Hall to herself. “—necessitates a certain retirement. My eyes—are sometimes so weak and painful that I have to shut myself up in the dark for hours together.”
The stranger explains that he came to Iping seeking solitude for his work, and that an accident has made his eyes sensitive, requiring him to stay in darkness.
Griffin's explanation to Mrs. Hall about his need for seclusion and his eye condition.
“He worked with the lamp close to him, and the green shade threw a brilliant light upon his hands, and upon the frame and wheels, and left the rest of the room shadowy. When he looked up, coloured patches swam in his eyes.”
Henfrey works by lamplight, and the green shade creates a stark contrast, causing colored spots in his vision when he looks away.
Description of Henfrey's discomfort while repairing the clock under the stranger's gaze.