Character Sketch of Mr Heelas in The Invisible Man
Character Sketch of Mr Heelas in The Invisible Man: Mr Heelas was the next door neighbour of Dr Kemp. He was one of the sturdy minority who refused to believe in the story of the Invisible Man and regarded it as nonsense, though his wife did believe in it. When it was proclaimed that everyone should be on high alert, he insisted upon walking about his garden as if nothing had happened. This shows his casual approach regarding the rumours and his ‘seeing, then believing’ attitude.
However, Mr Heelas is seen as a coward who would not open his door to help his neighbour in distress. Griffin was after Dr Kemp. When Mr Heelas woke up and saw his neighbour’s house, he at once realised that the Invisible Man was after him. Dr Kemp came running to him but he denied him entry. Perhaps he was trying to save his own family, but this was cowardly.
Mr. Heelas was asleep in his villa when the siege of his nearest neighbour, Kemp’s house began. He slept through the smashing of the windows, and then woke up suddenly. He looked across at Kemp’s house. Every window was broken. As he stood wondering, the shutters of the drawing-room, window were flung open violently, and the housemaid appeared struggling in a frantic manner. Suddenly Dr. Kemp appeared by her side. Mr. Heelas saw Kemp stand on the sill, spring from the window, and stoop and run like a man who evades observation. In a second he was running at a tremendous pace down the slope towards Heelas. It was there that Mr. Heelas struck with an idea that it was the invisible man who was after the life of Dr. Kemp. Mr. Heelas shouted like a bull to close all the doors and windows of his house so that Dr. Kemp could not made an entry, along with the invisible man, to his house.