Footprints without Feet

Given/Context: Griffin is the invisible scientist in H.G. Wells' story 'Footprints without Feet.'

Answer:

Griffin was indeed a lawless person. The following incidents from the story support this view:

1. Setting fire to his landlord's house: When his landlord tried to evict him, Griffin, instead of leaving peacefully, set the house on fire — an act of arson that shows complete disregard for the law and for others' property.

2. Stealing from a London store: After becoming invisible, Griffin entered a big London store, ate and drank whatever he wished, and wore clothes without paying for them. He robbed the store of its goods.

3. Robbing a clergyman's house: Griffin broke into the clergyman's house and stole money from the desk. This was outright theft.

4. Robbing the theatrical company: He attacked the shopkeeper Marvel and stole money from him as well.

5. Attacking Jaffers and others: When the constable Jaffers tried to arrest him, Griffin attacked him and knocked him unconscious. He also hit several other people who tried to stop him.

Thus, Griffin misused his brilliant scientific discovery not for the benefit of humanity but for personal gain and revenge. He had no respect for law, property, or human life. His invisibility, instead of being used constructively, became a tool for crime and violence. This clearly establishes that Griffin was a lawless and irresponsible person.

Given/Context: Griffin is the central character — a scientist who discovered the formula to make the human body transparent/invisible.

Answer:

As a scientist, Griffin was undoubtedly brilliant and ahead of his time. However, his brilliance was overshadowed by his irresponsible and unethical conduct. Here is a balanced assessment:

As a brilliant scientist:
- Griffin carried out extraordinary scientific research and succeeded in discovering a rare scientific formula by which a human body could become invisible.
- He worked on the principle that a human body could be made transparent like glass by changing its refractive index so that it neither reflects nor refracts light.
- This was a remarkable scientific achievement that no one had accomplished before him.

As an irresponsible scientist:
- Griffin used his discovery purely for selfish purposes — to steal, to take revenge, and to escape the law.
- He did not think about the welfare of society or the ethical implications of his invention.
- A true scientist uses knowledge for the betterment of humanity, but Griffin used it to harm others.
- His lack of moral responsibility made him dangerous rather than beneficial to society.

Conclusion: Griffin was a gifted and intelligent scientist, but he lacked moral values and a sense of social responsibility. His genius was wasted because he channelled it into crime and self-interest. A scientist's greatness lies not only in discovery but also in how that discovery is used — and by that measure, Griffin falls short.

This is an open-ended discussion question. A model answer is provided below:

Becoming invisible is a fascinating idea that has captured human imagination for centuries. Here is a balanced view:

Advantages of becoming invisible:
1. One could move freely without being noticed, which could be useful in dangerous situations.
2. It could help in catching criminals, spies, or terrorists by observing them secretly.
3. One could help people in need without seeking recognition or reward.
4. It could be useful for scientific exploration in places that are otherwise inaccessible.
5. One could avoid unwanted social situations or escape from enemies.

Disadvantages of becoming invisible:
1. Invisibility could tempt a person to engage in unethical activities like stealing, spying on others, or breaking the law — as Griffin did.
2. It would be difficult to interact normally with family and friends.
3. The invisible person could be accidentally hurt since others cannot see them.
4. It could lead to loneliness and social isolation.
5. The misuse of such a power could cause harm to society.

Personal View: While the idea of invisibility sounds exciting, it comes with great moral responsibility. Like any power, it must be used ethically. The story of Griffin is a warning that scientific power without moral values leads to destruction.

This is an open-ended discussion question. A model answer is provided below:

Invisible forces and aspects of matter:

Yes, there are many forces and aspects of matter around us that are invisible to the naked eye:

1. Magnetism: Magnetic fields are invisible but can be felt when two magnets attract or repel each other.
2. Gravity: We cannot see gravity, but we experience it every moment of our lives.
3. Electricity: Electric current and electric fields are invisible.
4. Radiation: Ultraviolet rays, X-rays, infrared rays, and radio waves are all invisible.
5. Atoms and molecules: All matter is made up of atoms and molecules that are far too small to be seen with the naked eye.
6. Microorganisms: Bacteria, viruses, and other microbes are invisible without a microscope.
7. Air/Gases: The air we breathe is invisible.

What the world would be like if we could see these forces:
- We would see a completely different and far more complex world around us.
- Magnetic field lines would appear as glowing curves around magnets and the Earth.
- Gravity would perhaps appear as a constant downward pull of light.
- We would see atoms vibrating and bonding with each other.
- Microorganisms would be visible everywhere — on surfaces, in the air, in water.
- The world would appear far more crowded, dynamic, and interconnected.

Such a world would be both wonderful and overwhelming, and it would revolutionise science, medicine, and our understanding of the universe.

This is an open-ended discussion question. A model answer is provided below:

Why glass and water are transparent — Scientific Explanation:

Transparency depends on how a material interacts with light at the atomic level:
- In transparent materials like glass and water, the atoms are arranged in such a way that photons (particles of light) can pass through without being absorbed or scattered significantly.
- The electrons in glass and water do not absorb the frequencies of visible light; instead, they allow light to pass through.
- In opaque materials, electrons absorb the photons of visible light, preventing them from passing through.
- The refractive index of a material determines how much it bends light. Glass and water have refractive indices that allow light to pass through with only a change in direction.

Could a man become invisible or transparent?

In the story, Griffin changes the refractive index of his body so that it neither absorbs nor reflects light, making him invisible. Scientifically:

- In theory, if the refractive index of the human body could be made equal to that of air (i.e., 1), light would pass through without bending or reflecting, making the person invisible.
- However, in practice, this is currently impossible because:
1. The human body is made of complex biological tissues, cells, and organs that absorb and scatter light.
2. Changing the refractive index of living tissue without destroying it is beyond present science.
3. Even if the body became transparent, the eyes would also become transparent and the person would become blind, since vision depends on the eye absorbing light.

Conclusion: While science fiction writers like H.G. Wells have imagined human invisibility, and while scientists are working on 'invisibility cloaks' using metamaterials, making a living human being truly invisible remains beyond the reach of current science. However, given the rapid pace of scientific advancement, it may not remain impossible forever — which is why science fiction is often called prophetic.