# Professor Redwood — The Food of the Gods character guide > Professor Redwood in The Food of the Gods by H. G. Wells. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Redwood, Father Redwood, Professor Redwood **First appearance:** 0001-i-the-discovery-of-the-food ## Snapshot A pensive scientist who feeds the Food to his own infant son and finds himself planning a nursery — and a future — on a colossal scale. ## Who they are Redwood co-discovers the Food but quickly becomes its most committed advocate, convinced his growing boy must have it regardless of the cost. Where Bensington hesitates, Redwood pushes forward, furnishing a nursery with cathedral-sized doors and dreaming of educating a giant. His fierce paternal ambition makes the abstract experiment personal, and it is his insistence that drives the story past the point of no return. ## Relationships ### [Cossar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/cossar) _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) _family_ Professor Redwood is the father of Young Redwood, and they share a bond complicated by the effects of the Food. ### [Caterham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/caterham) _rivalry_ Caterham is a political enemy of Redwood, leading a campaign against the giants and the Food of the Gods. ### [Jane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/jane) _family_ Jane is Professor Redwood's wife, who is anxious and disapproving of his dangerous experiments. ### [Skinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/skinner) _professional_ Skinner is a servant and assistant to Redwood, though he becomes unreliable and treacherous. ### [The Giant Princess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/the_giant_princess) _professional_ Redwood interacts with the Giant Princess as a scientific subject and a figurehead of the giant community. ### [Mr. Bensington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/mr_bensington) _professional_ Mr. Bensington is a fellow scientist and co-discoverer of the Food of the Gods, collaborating with Redwood. ### [Cossar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/cossar) _friendship_ Cossar and Redwood are close allies and collaborators in the development and promotion of the Food of the Gods. ### [Cossar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/cossar) _friendship_ Cossar and Redwood are close allies and collaborators in the development and promotion of the Food of the Gods. ### [Caterham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/caterham) _rivalry_ Caterham is a political enemy of Redwood, leading a campaign against the giants and the Food of the Gods. ### [Skinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/skinner) _professional_ Skinner is a servant and assistant to Redwood, though he becomes unreliable and treacherous. ### [Young Redwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/young_redwood) _family_ Professor Redwood is the father of Young Redwood, and they share a bond complicated by the effects of the Food. ## 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) Co-discoverer of the Food; actively involved in the experiments and their consequences. ### [The Discovery of the Food](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i-the-discovery-of-the-food) A physiologist known for his work on Reaction Times and growth curves; his research on growth inspires Bensington's idea. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Introduced as a professor of physiology at Bond Street College, eminent for his work on Reaction Times, and described as ordinary-looking but with a lingering visionary quality. ### [The Food of the Gods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Bensington's collaborator; quietly agrees to the classical name Herakleophorbia and participates in the research. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) His paper on growth patterns inspires Bensington's idea. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) Also dreams that night, imagining himself lecturing primordial forces about the new growth made possible by the Food. ### [The Experimental Farm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii-the-experimental-farm) Agrees with Bensington on using larger animals; works on bull calves at Bond Street College. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Agrees with Bensington about using larger animals for experiments; conducts research on bull calves. ### [The Giant Chick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Confesses to giving Herakleophorbia to his baby and worries about the child's growth. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) Makes a flying visit to the farm; later reads about the giant wasps and rushes to Bensington's flat. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v) Interrogates Skinner about measurements and dismisses his fears, insisting he return to the farm. ### [III: The Giant Rats](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii-the-giant-rats) Participates in the expedition, shoots at a giant rat, and later discusses the crisis with Bensington. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Anxious about his son's rapid growth and the public fallout; frustrated by bureaucratic obstacles. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Sent to buy guns and ammunition; becomes entangled in railway bureaucracy until Cossar intervenes. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) Participates in the gunfight, pursues a rat, and later meditates on the creature's corpse. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v) Helps secure the house and scouts the wasp holes with Bensington. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vi) Part of the expedition, noting that they left their guns by the sacks. ### [IV: The Giant Children](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv-the-giant-children) Discusses publication of the discovery with Winkles, insisting on open scientific sharing. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as the co-inventor, but the public ignores his role; his child is noted as one of the growing giants. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Redwood is cautious about sharing the secret of the Food with Winkles and considers giving it to his son if necessary. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Visits Bensington with concerns about Winkles and the Royal Commission; agrees to supply powders to Winkles but refuses to share the recipe. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) Defends continuing the Food for his son, acknowledges the inevitable upheaval, and criticizes Winkles' lack of understanding. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v) Defends his son's growth and tries to comfort his wife. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vi) Redwood is deeply involved in raising his giant son, designing a vast nursery and educational plan for him, and reflecting on the implications of the Food. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as having refused to share the composition of Herakleophorbia IV with Winkles. ### [The Discovery at Cheasing Eyebright](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vi) Redwood investigates the anonymous letter and finds Mrs. Skinner, then discovers the giant baby at Cheasing Eyebright. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vii) Confronted by Lady Wondershoot's agent; threatens to stop supplying the Food. ### [II: The Giant Lovers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii-the-giant-lovers) Young Redwood's father, a common professor of chemistry, mentioned in the scandal about the Princess's lover. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned as the father of young Redwood and a believer in the future of giants. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Mentioned as the father of young Redwood, whose work with the Food of the Gods led to the giant offspring. ### [IV: Redwood’s Two Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv-redwood-s-two-days) Redwood negotiates with Caterham, struggles with the moral weight of his discovery, and fears for his son's life. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Arrested at home while convalescing, desperate for news of his son. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Confined to his study, he anxiously watches the street and sky, tormented by fears for his son and the other giants. ### [The Prisoner and the Parley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Imprisoned for thirty-six hours, he is summoned by Caterham and learns of the battle's toll, including his son's wound. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) Redwood confronts Caterham, arguing for the Giants' freedom and seeking to join his son. ### [V: The Giant Leaguer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v-the-giant-leaguer) Travels to the giant encampment, reflects on the Food's spread, and prepares to deliver Caterham's message. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Travels south to find the giant children, reflecting on the history of the Food and his own doubts. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Redwood enters the Giants' pit, seeking his son, but comes to understand his own irrelevance in the new order. ### [The Gathering of the Giants](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Delivers Caterham's terms to the Giants, struggles with doubt but ultimately reaffirms his faith in the cause. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/professor_redwood - 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