# Cossar — The Food of the Gods character guide > Cossar in The Food of the Gods by H. G. Wells. **Role:** major **Also known as:** III Cossar, Trust Cossar **First appearance:** 0003-ii ## Snapshot A booming, all-or-nothing engineer who doses his three sons with the Food and bellows at his cautious colleagues to spread it faster. ## Who they are Cossar is the practical, exuberant counterweight to Bensington's timidity and Redwood's brooding — a man who gives the Food to all three of his boys without a flicker of doubt. He treats the coming upheaval as obvious and welcome, mocking fears of disturbance as the whimper of 'some sort of little vegetable.' His relentless 'make it so!' energy forces the others to stop deliberating and start acting. ## Relationships ### [Professor Redwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/professor_redwood) _friendship_ Cossar and Redwood are close allies and collaborators in the development and promotion of the Food of the Gods. ### [Young Redwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/young_redwood) _friendship_ Cossar is a mentor and ally to Young Redwood, supporting him in the struggle for the giants' rights. ### [Flack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/flack) _professional_ Cossar employs Flack as a practical engineer and assistant in his giant-building projects. ### [Jane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/jane) _social_ Cossar and Jane are acquaintances through their connection to Professor Redwood, though Jane dislikes Cossar's influence. ### [Professor Redwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/professor_redwood) _friendship_ Cossar and Redwood are close allies and collaborators in the development and promotion of the Food of the Gods. ### [Professor Redwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/professor_redwood) _friendship_ Cossar and Redwood are close allies and collaborators in the development and promotion of the Food of the Gods. ### [Flack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/flack) _professional_ Cossar employs Flack as a practical engineer and assistant in his giant-building projects. ### [Flack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/flack) _professional_ Cossar employs Flack as a practical engineer and assistant in his giant-building projects. ### [Jane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/jane) _social_ Cossar and Jane are acquaintances through their connection to Professor Redwood, though Jane dislikes Cossar's influence. ### [Young Redwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/young_redwood) _friendship_ Cossar is a mentor and ally to Young Redwood, supporting him in the struggle for the giants' rights. ## In the story ### [Book I: The Dawn of the Food](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/book-i-the-dawn-of-the-food) Joins the fight against the giant pests; leads an expedition to destroy them. ### [III: The Giant Rats](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii-the-giant-rats) Leads an expedition to the Experimental Farm to destroy the giant wasps and rats. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Takes command of the crisis, organizing the purchase of guns and supplies, and cutting through bureaucratic red tape. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) Leads the expedition with decisive, practical action, commandeering horses and directing the men. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v) Leads the expedition, kills a giant rat and earwigs, and organizes the defense. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vi) Leads the expedition against the giant wasps and rats, demonstrating bravery and tactical ingenuity by entering the rat holes himself. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vii) Leads the destruction of the farm with energetic determination, moving among the men like a god. ### [IV: The Giant Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv-the-giant-children) Urges Bensington to continue his work, dismissing doubts about serious consequences. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Urges Bensington to continue his work, dismissing any hesitation as wicked; insists on the necessity of serious consequences. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) Urges Bensington and Redwood to proceed boldly with the Food, dismissing their concerns as irrelevant. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vi) Cossar helps build the giant nursery and provides toys for the giant children, showing his practical support for the experiment. ### [The Minimificence of Mr. Bensington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v-the-minimificence-of-mr-bensington) Helps Bensington escape by dressing him in women's clothing and guiding him through the crowd. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as being concerned about the timing of the outbreak relative to the Royal Commission's report. ### [Chapter II: The Flight of Mr. Bensington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Rescues Bensington from the mob, dressing him as an old woman and guiding him to safety. ### [I: The Coming of the Food](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i-the-coming-of-the-food) His three sons are mentioned as giant children performing feats of strength. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Referenced in relation to his three sons, who are growing into giant children and performing feats of strength. ### [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 practical engineer who gave the Food to his sons and now leads efforts to manage the giant offspring. ### [I: The Altered World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i-the-altered-world) Mentioned as the father of the three giant sons; his sons follow his orders to dig trenches. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as the father of the giant sons; his house and the giants' playground are seen from the train. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Father of the three giant boys; he reproves them but laughs and seems happy about their endeavors. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) Father of the three giant sons, appears at the end of the chapter returning with urgent news. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as the father of the giant sons and a target of the young man's criticism. ### [II: The Giant Lovers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii-the-giant-lovers) Referenced by young Redwood as one of the Brethren who has thought about the coming conflict. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned as a leader among the giants; his sons are the only Brethren still reachable. ### [IV: Redwood’s Two Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv-redwood-s-two-days) Cossar is referenced as having been arrested, and his sons are among the Giants fighting. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Also targeted for arrest by Caterham, though not present in this scene. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned in Redwood's memories of the early days at the Experimental Farm; Redwood assumes Cossar has also been arrested. ### [The Prisoner and the Parley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Mentioned as being at the Chislehurst camp with the surviving Giants, and credited with the poison shell strategy. ### [V: The Giant Leaguer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v-the-giant-leaguer) Guides Redwood through the pit and remains confident and resolute. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Meets Redwood on the road, reports that the giant children are safe after the fight. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Cossar leads Redwood through the pit and articulates the philosophy that each generation's work ends with death. ### [The Gathering of the Giants](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Present at the assembly, prompts Redwood to deliver the terms and later oversees preparations. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/cossar - 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