# Gumbril Senior — Antic Hay character guide

> Gumbril Senior in Antic Hay by Aldous Huxley.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** II Gumbril Senior, the cabman Gumbril Senior

**First appearance:** 0003-ii

## Who they are

Theodore's father, a retired schoolmaster with a taste for invention and a cabman's ear for history, delivers bleak wisdom about liberty with the cheerfulness of a man who has made peace with disappointment.

## In the story

### [Antic Hay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/chapters/antic-hay)

Theodore's father, a cabman, who provides a contrast to Theodore's intellectual pretensions.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/chapters/i)

Mentioned as an atheist and unsuccessful architect who disliked clergy.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/chapters/ii)

Hosts his son and Mr. Porteous, reacts to the invention, offers to introduce Boldero, and displays his architectural models and love for his house and the starlings.

### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/chapters/xi)

Returns from dining out and joins the conversation. He delivers a long, impassioned critique of London's urban planning and the stubbornness of its citizens, then describes an ideal city in elaborate detail.

### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/chapters/xxi)

Visited by Gumbril and Mrs. Viveash; reveals he sold his model of London to buy back Porteous's books.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/characters/gumbril_senior
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antic_hay_se/characters