Friday 24 July 2015

Dr.Kemp’s concern for the people of Port Burdock is seen in the active role he plays in the arrest of Griffin

What comes up in chapter 25 as a portrayal of Dr. Kemp might be a contrast to how we saw him in the 15th chapter as  an ambitious man who wanted to earn a fellowship in the Royal Society, but in this chapter we see him as someone who is concerned about the welfare of the citizens of the town. One might say that initially he wanted Colonel Adye to help him get rid of a potentially dangerous man from his house, but in this chapter we can see that this concern extends to the other people too. In his own words, “He has wounded men. He will kill them unless we can prevent them.”
Dr. Kemp’s suggestions to Colonel Adye on how to arrest Griffin are pertinent and filled with good advice. He suggests that they must prevent him from leaving the district, they must set a watch on trains and roads and shipping. He must be prevented from eating or sleeping; as such the entire district should be alert and watchful,gangs of men should be hunting him, houses should be barred against him, dogs should be put into use, and powdered glass should be spread on the roads. These measures will have the ability to flush Griffin out, out into the open where he can be caught. Dr. Kemp goes further to help Colonel Adye arrest Griffin by actually accompanying the police officer on his rounds.
It is clear from a reading of the 24th chapter that Kemp has risen above the need to think only of himself. As a contrast to Griffin who in Kemp’s words,“has cut himself off from his kind ” Dr. Kemp is getting more and more attached to the society. In chapter 27 is ready offer himself as “bait” so that Griffin might be apprehended even if it leads to his own death.In chapter 28 we see Kemp acting as a live bait, running on the hill-road after Mr. Heelas refused to give him a sanctuary in his own house.
The chapter highlights the fact that Dr. Kemp stands in total contrast to Griffin. While Griffin turns out to be a through and through misanthrope, Dr. Kemp shows his concern for the society by ensuring that Griffin is apprehended in the soonest possible time. By the 25th chapter it becomes clear that Griffin “has cut himself off from his kind,” and that, “His blood be upon his own head.”

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