# The Vicar — The Food of the Gods character guide

> The Vicar in The Food of the Gods by H. G. Wells.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Vicar

**First appearance:** 0036-i-the-coming-of-the-food

## Who they are

A village clergyman who comments on the giant children.

## Relationships

### [Young Redwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/young_redwood)

_rivalry_

The Vicar is a moralistic antagonist to Young Redwood, representing the conservative opposition to the giants.

### [Lady Wondershoot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/lady_wondershoot)

_friendship_

Lady Wondershoot and the Vicar are allies in their conservative opposition to the giants and the Food.

### [Skinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/skinner)

_social_

Skinner and the Vicar interact as members of the same rural community, sharing a common hostility toward the giants.

### [Caddles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/caddles)

_rivalry_

Caddles, a giant, is in conflict with the Vicar, who represents the oppressive human authority that seeks to control him.

### [Young Redwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/young_redwood)

_rivalry_

The Vicar is a moralistic antagonist to Young Redwood, representing the conservative opposition to the giants.

### [Caddles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/caddles)

_rivalry_

Caddles, a giant, is in conflict with the Vicar, who represents the oppressive human authority that seeks to control him.

### [Lady Wondershoot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/lady_wondershoot)

_friendship_

Lady Wondershoot and the Vicar are allies in their conservative opposition to the giants and the Food.

## In the story

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vii)

The Vicar's wife's new conservatory is smashed by a croquet mallet thrown at a hen.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii)

The Vicar of Cheasing Eyebright, a plump, conservative, and mellow man who believes the village is insulated from modern change, is introduced as he sits admiring the village and dismissing Mrs. Skinner's arrival as unimportant.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii)

Discovers and examines the giant puffballs, but fails to connect them to the Caddles' baby's growth.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv)

Officiates at the christening and is the first to publicly note the baby's unusual size.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v)

Initially skeptical of giant wasp reports, he discovers the abnormal growth in his parish and fears contagion.

### [The Discovery at Cheasing Eyebright](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vi)

The Vicar passes by on the road but is ignored by Lady Wondershoot.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vii)

Echoes Lady Wondershoot's conclusion that the mischief is only beginning.

### [II: The Brat Gigantic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii-the-brat-gigantic)

The Vicar provides a conservative perspective, lamenting the changes brought by the Food and reflecting on the past. He observes Caddles' growth and isolation, but fails to understand the giant's inner thoughts.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i)

The Vicar attempts to provide moral and religious instruction to young Caddles, but he is also fearful and repressive, enforcing the social order that confines the giant.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii)

The Vicar observes the stranded fish and dry riverbed after Caddles' dam diverts the water.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii)

Comments on the virtue of simple duties for humanity and observes Caddles at work.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv)

The Vicar attempts to control Caddles' thinking but fails as the giant's mind develops independently.

### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v)

The Vicar, now elderly and weakened, reflects on the changes brought by the Food and dies peacefully after his last sight of Caddles.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i)

The new Vicar of Cheasing Eyebright is mentioned as less helpful than the old one, failing to answer Caddles' questions.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/the_vicar
- 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