# The Furniture That Went Mad explained — The Invisible Man

> Chapter companion for The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells.

## What happens

Mr. and Mrs. Hall discover the stranger's room empty, his clothes and bandages left behind. As they investigate, the furniture in the room comes to life, attacking them and driving them out. The Halls and neighbors, including Mr. Sandy Wadgers, gather to discuss the strange events, but the stranger reappears, descends the stairs, and slams the parlor door in their faces, refusing to explain.

## Themes in this chapter

### Fear of the Unknown

The Halls and neighbors are terrified by the inexplicable behavior of the furniture and the stranger's disappearance, attributing it to spirits or witchcraft.

### Isolation and Alienation

The stranger's reclusive and mysterious actions, including his refusal to explain, alienate him from the community and heighten their suspicion.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Hall

Discovers the stranger's room empty and the front door unbolted; witnesses the furniture attack.

### Mrs. Hall

Goes to inspect the empty room and is attacked by the animated furniture; believes it is spirits.

### Millie

Roused by Mrs. Hall's scream; helps get her downstairs.

### Sandy Wadgers

Called by the Halls to help; suspects witchcraft and hesitates to break down the door.

### Huxter

Joins the discussion outside the inn after his apprentice is called over.

### Griffin

The stranger whose room is empty; later descends the stairs and slams the parlor door, refusing to explain.

## Key lines

> The bedclothes gathered themselves together, leapt up suddenly into a sort of peak, and then jumped headlong over the bottom rail.

The bed sheets bunched up, rose into a point, and then flung themselves over the foot of the bed.

_Describes the supernatural animation of the bedclothes._

> The chair and bed seemed to be executing a dance of triumph for a moment, and then abruptly everything was still.

The chair and bed appeared to celebrate briefly before suddenly becoming motionless.

_Captures the eerie, momentary victory of the possessed furniture._

> I’d go in and ask’n ’bout it, I’d d’mand an explanation.

I would go in and ask him about it, I would demand an explanation.

_Mr. Wadgers suggests confronting the stranger directly._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_invisible_man_se/chapters/vi-the-furniture-that-went-mad
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_invisible_man_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_invisible_man_se/chapters