# Senator Gotobed — The American Senator character guide > Senator Gotobed in The American Senator by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mr. Gotobed, the Senator, Elias Gotobed **First appearance:** 0015-xvi-mr-gotobed-s-philanthropy ## Snapshot Senator Gotobed arrives from Mickewa determined to inspect England as if it were a specimen, and finds the natives alarmingly resistant to his questions. ## Who they are A visiting American senator lodging at Bragton, Gotobed pursues truth with a zeal that scandalizes his hosts, whether he is defending the unpopular Goarly against Lord Rufford or interrogating the game laws at dinner. His hosts find him alternately amusing and insufferable, and his habit of taking the wrong side on principle makes him a walking provocation. He matters because his outsider's eye exposes the absurdities of English rank and custom that the novel's natives take for granted. ## Relationships ### [John Morton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/john_morton) _professional_ John Morton, as a local squire, engages with Senator Gotobed in debates about English and American customs. ### [Goarly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/goarly) _professional_ Goarly, a poacher, becomes a legal case study for Senator Gotobed's critique of English game laws. ### [John Morton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/john_morton) _professional_ John Morton, as a local squire, engages with Senator Gotobed in debates about English and American customs. ### [Goarly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/goarly) _professional_ Goarly, a poacher, becomes a legal case study for Senator Gotobed's critique of English game laws. ### [John Morton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/john_morton) _professional_ John Morton, as a local squire, engages with Senator Gotobed in debates about English and American customs. ### [Goarly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/goarly) _professional_ Goarly, a poacher, becomes a legal case study for Senator Gotobed's critique of English game laws. ## In the story ### [The Paragon's Party at Bragton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/viii-the-paragon-s-party-at-bragton) American Senator visiting Bragton, critical of English customs like fox hunting and the scale of the estate. ### [The Old Kennels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/ix-the-old-kennels) Observes the hunt with critical curiosity, questioning its efficiency and purpose; is present when poison is discovered. ### [Goarly's Revenge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/x-goarly-s-revenge) Questions the hunting customs and sympathizes with Goarly as a man standing up for his rights against the crowd. ### [XII: Arabella Trefoil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xii-arabella-trefoil) Persistently questions the Church of England's practices, particularly the absentee rector Mr. Puttock, drawing comparisons with American systems. His critical observations add to the tension. ### [At Bragton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xiii-at-bragton) Asks pointed questions about English customs, including church patronage and room heating, highlighting cultural differences. ### [XV: A Fit Companion—For Me and My Sisters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xv-a-fit-companion-for-me-and-my-sisters) Encountered by Reginald at Bragton; he has just returned from a visit and inquires about the farmhouse. ### [Mr. Gotobed's Philanthropy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xvi-mr-gotobed-s-philanthropy) Visits Goarly to express support for his stand against the aristocracy; investigates the damage compensation dispute. ### [Lord Rufford's Invitation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xvii-lord-rufford-s-invitation) Willing to attend, seeing it as an opportunity to observe English society and discuss the Goarly case. ### [XIX: “Who Valued the Geese?”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xix-who-valued-the-geese) Investigates the Goarly case, promises fifty dollars to support the poor man's claim, and argues for justice against aristocratic privilege. ### [XX: There Are Convenances](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xx-there-are-convenances) Visits the meet to explain his views about Goarly to Lord Rufford; laughs at English churchgoing habits and is considered an unsuitable guest by Lady Augustus. ### [The First Evening at Rufford Hall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xxi-the-first-evening-at-rufford-hall) Arrives with Morton, discusses American institutions and the Goarly case with Lady Penwether. ### [Jemima](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xxii-jemima) Listens to discussions about Goarly at the public breakfast, questions the severity of punishment for killing a fox, and wanders the park during the hunt. ### [The Ball](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xxiv-the-ball) Dances with Miss Penge and whispers to Lady Penwether about the rumored engagement between Arabella and John Morton. ### [XXV: The Last Morning at Rufford Hall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xxv-the-last-morning-at-rufford-hall) Attempts to discuss the Goarly case with Lord Rufford but is dismissed; his American perspective is not understood. ### [Mounser Green](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xxviii-mounser-green) The American Senator pursuing the Goarly case; meets Morton at the Foreign Office and seeks a seat for the opening of Parliament. ### [The Senator's Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xxix-the-senator-s-letter) Visits Dillsborough alone, stays at the Bush Inn, meets with Goarly and Bearside, pays Bearside £15, writes a critical letter about English aristocracy, and leaves feeling uneasy about the Goarly case. ### [The Rufford Correspondence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xxxi-the-rufford-correspondence) Mentioned by Lord Rufford in connection with the poisoned fox case. ### [XLI: The Senator Is Badly Treated](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xli-the-senator-is-badly-treated) Visits Bragton and faces hostility from locals; insists on justice despite being pressured by Bearside for legal fees. ### [Mr. Mainwaring's Little Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/xlii-mr-mainwaring-s-little-dinner) Provokes controversy by criticizing Church patronage and English wine, remaining unapologetic throughout the dinner. ### [The Senator’s Second Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/li-the-senator-s-second-letter) The Senator is deeply troubled by English customs and politics, studying Parliament and witnessing a corrupt election. He also settles the Bearside legal bill and feels remorse over his quarrel with John Morton. ### [The New Minister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxv-the-new-minister) Enters the Foreign Office to announce he has secured a hall for his lecture and requests police protection. ### [Lord Rufford's Model Farm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxviii-lord-rufford-s-model-farm) Visits Rufford Hall, defends his principles on property rights, and critiques the model farm as a model of ruin. ### [Scrobby's Trial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxix-scrobby-s-trial) Testifies at the trial, criticizing the English legal system and class bias. Argues that poor men like Goarly lack legal redress against wealthy landowners. ### [The Senator’s Lecture.—No. I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxxvii-the-senator-s-lecture-no-i) Delivers the lecture, criticizing British political institutions and customs with audacity and energy. ### [The Senator's Lecture.—No. II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxxviii-the-senator-s-lecture-no-ii) Delivers the lecture, defending his views and criticizing British aristocracy, primogeniture, hunting, church patronage, and military purchase. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/chapters/lxxx-conclusion) Leaves England after his lecture is poorly received; continues his reform efforts in the U.S. Senate. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters/senator_gotobed - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_american_senator_se/characters