English Language & Literature — CBSE Class 10 board question

Griffin, the central character in Footprints without Feet, presents a contradictory personality — a gifted scientist who misuses his genius.

As a Brilliant Scientist: Griffin carried out experiment after experiment to prove that the human body could be made invisible. Finally, he succeeded by swallowing certain rare drugs, making his body as transparent as glass while remaining solid. This remarkable achievement places him among the most gifted scientific minds.

As a Lawless Person: Despite his brilliance, Griffin was essentially a criminal. He set fire to his landlord's house out of revenge, stole from a theatrical shop after attacking its owner, robbed the clergyman's house, and assaulted Constable Jaffers. He used his invisibility not for the benefit of mankind but for selfish and violent purposes.

Thus, Griffin is a classic example of a scientist who misuses knowledge — brilliant in intellect but reckless and dangerous in character.

Source: Footprints without Feet, Chapter 5 — H.G. Wells

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• Examiners expect a balanced evaluation: acknowledge his scientific genius first, then discuss his lawlessness with specific examples from the text.
• Use evidence from the passage: setting fire to the landlord's house, robbing the clergyman, attacking the shopkeeper, and fighting the constable.
• The concluding line linking misuse of science to his character earns the higher-order thinking mark.
• Avoid writing a one-sided answer; the question word "evaluate" demands both sides.