# Mr. Cavor — The First Men in the Moon character guide > Mr. Cavor in The First Men in the Moon by H. G. Wells. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Cavor, this Cavor **First appearance:** 0002-i-mr-bedford-meets-mr-cavor-at-lympne ## Snapshot An absent-minded physicist who invents a substance that shields gravity, Cavor launches the lunar voyage driven less by profit than by insatiable curiosity. ## Who they are Cavor is the kind of scientist who forgets meals, social niceties, and sometimes his own safety in pursuit of a question. Where Bedford schemes and calculates, Cavor wants only to observe, record, and understand whatever the Moon offers. His faith that rational inquiry can bridge any gap between species sets up the central collision between human curiosity and an utterly alien order. ## Relationships ### [The Selenites](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/characters/the_selenites) _professional_ Cavor interacts with the Selenites as a curious scientist and later as a captive, studying and being studied by them. ### [Phi-oo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/characters/phi_oo) _friendship_ Phi-oo becomes Cavor's primary Selenite interpreter and companion, helping him communicate with the lunar society. ### [Mr. Julius Wendigee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/characters/mr_julius_wendigee) _professional_ Wendigee is a Dutch astronomer who receives and records Cavor's radio transmissions from the Moon. ### [The Grand Lunar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/characters/the_grand_lunar) _professional_ The Grand Lunar is the supreme ruler of the Moon who interrogates Cavor about Earth's warlike nature. ### [Mr. Bedford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/characters/mr_bedford) _friendship_ Bedford is Cavor's business partner and fellow lunar explorer, though their relationship is strained by fear and greed. ### [Tsi-puff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/characters/tsi_puff) _professional_ Tsi-puff is a Selenite intellectual who engages Cavor in philosophical and scientific discussions. ### [Gibbs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/characters/gibbs) _social_ Gibbs is a skeptical acquaintance of Cavor's who dismisses his lunar theories before the journey. ### [Lloyd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/characters/lloyd) _social_ Lloyd is another skeptical acquaintance who mocks Cavor's scientific ideas. ### [The Selenites](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/characters/the_selenites) _professional_ Cavor interacts with the Selenites as a curious scientist and later as a captive, studying and being studied by them. ### [The Selenites](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/characters/the_selenites) _professional_ Cavor interacts with the Selenites as a curious scientist and later as a captive, studying and being studied by them. ### [Mr. Bedford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/characters/mr_bedford) _friendship_ Bedford is Cavor's business partner and fellow lunar explorer, though their relationship is strained by fear and greed. ### [Phi-oo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/characters/phi_oo) _friendship_ Phi-oo becomes Cavor's primary Selenite interpreter and companion, helping him communicate with the lunar society. ## In the story ### [The First Men in the Moon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/the-first-men-in-the-moon) The brilliant but naive scientist who invents Cavorite and dreams of lunar exploration. ### [Mr. Bedford Meets Mr. Cavor at Lympne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/i-mr-bedford-meets-mr-cavor-at-lympne) Eccentric scientist working on a substance opaque to gravity; initially indifferent to wealth but agrees to partnership. ### [II: The First Making of Cavorite](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/ii-the-first-making-of-cavorite) Absent-minded scientist; accidentally creates Cavorite, causing a massive explosion, yet remains focused on the scientific achievement. ### [The Building of the Sphere](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/iii-the-building-of-the-sphere) Cavor conceives the sphere design, explains its mechanics, and drives the construction with relentless energy. ### [Inside the Sphere](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/iv-inside-the-sphere) Calmly guides the launch and explains the physics of their situation. ### [The Journey to the Moon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/v-the-journey-to-the-moon) Guides the journey, explains the physics of their flight, opens blinds to adjust course, and speculates about lunar conditions and possible life. ### [VI: The Landing on the Moon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/vi-the-landing-on-the-moon) Controls the sphere's descent with intense exertion, opens and closes Cavorite windows to brake, and advises waiting for the glass to clear. ### [VII: Sunrise on the Moon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/vii-sunrise-on-the-moon) Observes the air evaporating; tends to Bedford after the chaos; explains the transformation of the lunar surface. ### [A Lunar Morning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/viii-a-lunar-morning) Shares in the observation, whispering 'Life!' as they witness the seeds germinating. ### [Prospecting Begins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/ix-prospecting-begins) Acts as a cautious mentor, helps Bedford after his fall, and shares in the wonder and adaptation to the lunar environment. ### [X: Lost Men in the Moon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/x-lost-men-in-the-moon) Initially uncertain, then tries to rationally locate the sphere; proposes counting the booming sounds; urges stealth and caution. ### [XI: The Mooncalf Pastures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/xi-the-mooncalf-pastures) Leads the crawl, shows anger at the mooncalves, becomes intoxicated by fungus, and charges at Selenites before being captured. ### [The Selenite's Face](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/xii-the-selenite-s-face) Also bound, groans from a headache, and is irritable; identifies that the Selenites have captured them. ### [Mr. Cavor Makes Some Suggestions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/xiii-mr-cavor-makes-some-suggestions) Speculates about the moon's hollow structure and the intelligence of the Selenites, proposing geometric communication. ### [Experiments in Intercourse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/xiv-experiments-in-intercourse) Tries to establish communication through gestures and broken English; insists on showing intelligent interest in the Selenites' machine. ### [The Giddy Bridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/xv-the-giddy-bridge) Remains more analytical despite danger, speculates on Selenite society and the lunar world; follows Bedford's lead during the escape. ### [Points of View](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/xvi-points-of-view) Wants to attempt communication with the Selenites, believes they may be more intelligent than the ones encountered, reflects on his own motives for knowledge. ### [The Fight in the Cave of the Moon Butchers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/xvii-the-fight-in-the-cave-of-the-moon-butchers) Accompanies Bedford, advises caution, and observes the Selenites' butchering activities. ### [In the Sunlight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/xviii-in-the-sunlight) Cavor expresses regret about their situation, worries about humanity's misuse of his discovery, and proposes a systematic search for the sphere. ### [Mr. Bedford Alone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/xix-mr-bedford-alone) Missing and not found by Bedford during the search; his absence heightens Bedford's anxiety. ### [Mr. Bedford in Infinite Space](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/xx-mr-bedford-in-infinite-space) Mentioned as lost on the Moon; Bedford imagines him dead or helpless, and feels powerless to assist. ### [XXII: The Astonishing Communication of Mr. Julius Wendigee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/xxii-the-astonishing-communication-of-mr-julius-wendigee) Alive and free on the moon, sending fragmentary messages to Earth; believes Bedford is dead. ### [An Abstract of the Six Messages First Received from Mr. Cavor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/xxiii-an-abstract-of-the-six-messages-first-received-from-mr-cavor) Author of the six messages; describes his descent into the moon and his interactions with the Selenites. ### [XXIV: The Natural History of the Selenites](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/xxiv-the-natural-history-of-the-selenites) Sends messages describing Selenite society and his linguistic progress. ### [XXV: The Grand Lunar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/xxv-the-grand-lunar) The narrator and protagonist, being interrogated by the Grand Lunar about Earth and its civilization. ### [XXVI: The Last Message Cavor Sent to the Earth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/xxvi-the-last-message-cavor-sent-to-the-earth) Sends his last messages from the moon, showing regret and desperation as he is likely captured. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/chapters/endnotes) Implicitly part of the 'we' experiencing the same physiological phenomena. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/characters/mr_cavor - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_first_men_in_the_moon_se/characters