# Caterham — The Food of the Gods character guide > Caterham in The Food of the Gods by H. G. Wells. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** young Caterham, Mr. Caterham **First appearance:** 0051-i-the-altered-world ## Snapshot An eloquent politician who seizes on public fear of the Food, warning that giant children will outgrow churches, meetinghouses, and every human institution. ## Who they are Caterham is the rising voice of opposition, turning the Food into a political cause by harping on what happens if it escapes again. He is mocked as an alarmist at first, yet his warnings about people thirty-seven feet high who cannot fit inside society's structures give shape to a growing unease. His agitation — amplified by Winkles's loose talk — pushes the Food from laboratory curiosity toward a national crisis. ## Relationships ### [Professor Redwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/professor_redwood) _rivalry_ Caterham is a political enemy of Redwood, leading a campaign against the giants and the Food of the Gods. ### [Young Redwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/young_redwood) _rivalry_ Caterham is a political leader who actively works to suppress and destroy Young Redwood and the giant movement. ### [Professor Redwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/professor_redwood) _rivalry_ Caterham is a political enemy of Redwood, leading a campaign against the giants and the Food of the Gods. ### [Professor Redwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/professor_redwood) _rivalry_ Caterham is a political enemy of Redwood, leading a campaign against the giants and the Food of the Gods. ### [Young Redwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/young_redwood) _rivalry_ Caterham is a political leader who actively works to suppress and destroy Young Redwood and the giant movement. ### [Young Redwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/young_redwood) _rivalry_ Caterham is a political leader who actively works to suppress and destroy Young Redwood and the giant movement. ## In the story ### [IV: The Giant Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv-the-giant-children) Writes an article calling for the suppression of the Food and founds a society for proper proportions. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Young Caterham writes an article in the Nineteenth Century and After advocating for the total suppression of the Food. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Caterham leads the opposition to the Food, arguing against its use in schools and advocating for legal restrictions. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) Referenced by Bensington as possibly being right about the Food dislocating everything. ### [Chapter II: The Flight of Mr. Bensington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) His party's extremists organize an Anti-Boomfood meeting that incites the mob against Bensington. ### [I: The Coming of the Food](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i-the-coming-of-the-food) Becomes a secondary political figure after the initial panic, advocating against the Food. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as a political figure who became secondary after the first panic, but slowly gained influence as an exponent of extreme views against the Food. ### [Book III: The Harvest of the Food](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/book-iii-the-harvest-of-the-food) The politician who campaigns against the Food and represents the conservative backlash. ### [I: The Altered World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i-the-altered-world) Leader of the reactionary party; advocates for 'pruning the bramble growths' and 'grasping the nettle' against the Food. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Referenced in the newspaper headline 'Great Speech by Mr. Caterham' and as a political figure campaigning against the Food. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Delivers a stirring anti-Boomfood speech at the People's Palace, portrayed as 'Jack the Giant-killer' and a defender of traditional institutions. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) Political figure leading the reactionary party against the giants, advocating to 'Grasp the nettle.' ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v) Referenced as the source of the young man's reactionary views, though not physically present. ### [II: The Giant Lovers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii-the-giant-lovers) Campaigns against the Boom-children before the General Election, providing the political backdrop to the lovers' story. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Campaigning against the Boom-children before the General Election. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Caterham has risen to power and issued a proclamation restricting giants' movements, seen as 'Jack the Giant-killer' by the public. ### [The Wandering of Caddles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) Caterham is mentioned as having declared no intention to kill Caddles initially, but his campaign leads to the giant's death. ### [IV: Redwood’s Two Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv-redwood-s-two-days) Caterham, exhausted and drug-dependent, presents a political solution while revealing his determination to end the Food's spread. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Orders the arrest of Cossar and Redwood, taking the law into his own hands. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Newly in office, his campaign against the Food is the cause of Redwood's confinement and the looming threat of violence. ### [The Prisoner and the Parley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Sends a young man to fetch Redwood, seeking his help to negotiate with the Giants after a failed campaign. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) Caterham, exhausted and drugged, proposes a reservation for the Giants and insists on stopping the Food. ### [V: The Giant Leaguer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v-the-giant-leaguer) Referenced as the sender of the message Redwood carries; his private secretary assists Redwood. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as the political leader Redwood has just met; his private secretary arranged the journey. ### [The Gathering of the Giants](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) The antagonist whose terms are rejected; his ultimatum drives the conflict. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/caterham - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters