Both Griffin of Invisible Man and Victor of Frankenstein are what we might classify as mad scientists. They have a need to create something never before done, against the persecution of the unbelieving science community. Although they differ in what they create, they both become successful in their quest towards a larger understanding of the scientific unknown. But the two end their tales in different states of mind, to which one might derive a certain sense of judgment in each.
Of the two mad scientists one would most likely point towards Griffin as the less likable. His breakthrough was not to benefit the world or for the scientific community; it was simply for his personal gain. One might argue the same against Victor but he had very little gain from his creation His was rather to prove a human could create life from an unanimated body, in which he was going to show to the rest of the world. Griffin does not share his secret with anyone, he even has a coded journal where he keeps his formulas and notes. Victor does not share his secret either but he believes his creation is a menace and a monster and therefore should never be repeated.
Griffin is a static character; he never changes throughout his tale, nor does he learn his lesson. He is greedy, selfish, uncaring and arrogant. He steals money from his father which becomes the cause of his death and never sheds a tear. He creates the invisibility potion for personal gain and even after creating it he says “all this isn’t half so wonderful as you think (Wells 49)” unimpressed with his own doings. While talking to the closest person resembling a friend, Griffin ‘refused to accept Kemp’s word that [Kemp’s] freedom should be respected (Wells 88)’. He barges into Kemp’s home in the middle of the night because he needs help. He is a man who thinks only of himself and must satisfy his needs in place of Kemp’s privacy. Griffin’s only other acquaintance, Thomas Marvel, is used and abused by him and when he tries to leave Griffin’s service he is kept as a prisoner and threatened multiple times.
Victor Frankenstein in his own way is also a selfish scientist. He sets out to animate a lifeless body to prove to his unbelieving science community it can be done, but more so than pride is his ambition and passion in the field. He speaks of his time spent working as ‘the summer months passed while I was thus engaged, heart and soul, in one pursuit (Shelley 32)’. He even goes on to say ‘I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation (Shelley 34)’. His experiment works, as Griffin’s, but unlike Griffin he feels regret for what he does. Immediately from his creation he feels ‘breathless horror and disgust [fill] my heart (Shelley 34)’. Griffin goes on stealing until his death, while Frankenstein quits his work after he creates the monster. He even refuses the request of the monster to make another of his kind “and no torture shall ever extort a consent [to make another monster] from me (Shelly 98)”, says Frankenstein to his monster.
Griffin and Frankenstein both die at the end of their stories alone. Griffin curses the world while Victor curses himself for creating his monster. But of the two, Griffin does not better himself in any way. He does not see himself as doing wrong, nor does he feel remorse for anything he has done. Victor believes he has done a terrible thing and vows to never repeat his mistake. Although they both die, it is for different reasons each comes to his fate. Victor lives in agony and suffering and dies because he has given up, because he suffers enough. Griffin dies because he will keep stealing and hurting people until he dies, a villain in every sense of the word. They both come to their just fates one might say.