Previous

Mysterious and distant, Griffin comes across as reserved, collected, and slow to trust from the very first time he and Robin meet at the Twisted Root. As the text progresses, it’s clear that what Robin wants from Griffin, in addition to answers and assurances about the Hermes Society’s effectiveness as well as his own personal safety, is some sort of relationship. Starved for affection after living with Lovell, Robin has no family left, and he occasionally sees in Griffin an opportunity for one. They are doppelgängers, after all, not just in physical appearance but also in circumstance; Griffin, like Robin, was ripped from his home and brought to Oxford, where he never truly felt he belonged.

Unlike Robin, however, Griffin was brought to England too young; he doesn’t “dream in Chinese,” and refers to himself as Robin’s “failed predecessor.” Furthermore, Griffin possesses something of Professor Lovell’s air of detachment. He may be Robin’s brother, but he’s an operative of Hermes first and foremost, and single-minded in his goals.

Also unlike Robin, at least initially, Griffin is wholly committed to justice by any means necessary. He is somewhat flippant about personal issues, opting always to see the bigger picture and think of things on a larger scale. His character represents the decision to choose action over passive complicity, and the willingness to make sacrifices for the sake of justice. He is one of novel’s strongest critics of the British Empire, with its cruelty and unchecked power which they fuel by controlling colonies and hoarding global resources. Griffin’s conversations with Robin explore the role of violence in political uprisings, as he staunchly argues that violence is a necessary component of rebellion, and later inspires in Robin an adherence to these same beliefs. He also introduces the concept of historical fluidity; namely, that the future is malleable if people are brave enough to challenge that which everyone thinks is inevitable.

Ultimately, Griffin serves as a catalyst for Robin, shattering his illusions of an idyllic Oxford and forcing him to confront the brutal realities of colonialism and oppression. Later, Griffin's lingering influence transforms Robin from a passive protester into a fierce advocate for violent resistance.

Previous section Professor Lovell

Take a Study Break