# Young Redwood — The Food of the Gods character guide > Young Redwood in The Food of the Gods by H. G. Wells. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Giant Redwood, Redwood, The Giant **First appearance:** 0024-iv-the-giant-children ## Snapshot Professor Redwood's son, fed the Food from infancy, grows into a colossal child whose size turns a private nursery experiment into public scandal. ## Who they are Young Redwood is the first child of the Food, a boy whose astonishing growth — fifty-nine pounds by six months — shatters his family's ordinary life and forces the discovery into the open. His father plans his education with awe and unease, furnishing a room big enough for a cathedral door. As the most visible of the giant children, he embodies both the promise and the threat that will divide the world around him. ## Relationships ### [Professor Redwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/professor_redwood) _family_ Professor Redwood is the father of Young Redwood, and they share a bond complicated by the effects of the Food. ### [The Vicar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/the_vicar) _rivalry_ The Vicar is a moralistic antagonist to Young Redwood, representing the conservative opposition to the giants. ### [Cossar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/cossar) _friendship_ Cossar is a mentor and ally to Young Redwood, supporting him in the struggle for the giants' rights. ### [Skinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/skinner) _rivalry_ Skinner is hostile and exploitative toward Young Redwood, acting as a treacherous servant turned enemy. ### [Lady Wondershoot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/lady_wondershoot) _rivalry_ Lady Wondershoot is a wealthy landowner who opposes Young Redwood and the giants, representing aristocratic resistance. ### [Caterham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/caterham) _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) _family_ Professor Redwood is the father of Young Redwood, and they share a bond complicated by the effects of the Food. ### [Lady Wondershoot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/lady_wondershoot) _rivalry_ Lady Wondershoot is a wealthy landowner who opposes Young Redwood and the giants, representing aristocratic resistance. ### [Lady Wondershoot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/lady_wondershoot) _rivalry_ Lady Wondershoot is a wealthy landowner who opposes Young Redwood and the giants, representing aristocratic resistance. ### [Caterham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/caterham) _rivalry_ Caterham is a political leader who actively works to suppress and destroy Young Redwood and the giant movement. ### [The Vicar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/the_vicar) _rivalry_ The Vicar is a moralistic antagonist to Young Redwood, representing the conservative opposition to the giants. ### [Skinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/skinner) _rivalry_ Skinner is hostile and exploitative toward Young Redwood, acting as a treacherous servant turned enemy. ## In the story ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Redwood's son, growing at an alarming rate; his size and strength cause practical problems. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v) The giant baby, now nearly five feet tall and weighing over eight stone at twelve months. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/vi) The first child to eat the Food, now a giant infant crawling, smashing furniture, and babbling in the nursery. ### [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 giant son of Professor Redwood, now grown and a central figure among the giant children. ### [I: The Altered World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i-the-altered-world) Referred to as 'Brother Redwood' by the Cossar sons; they are being cut off from him by restrictions. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Implied as one of the giant figures seen playing, though the text specifically refers to 'the Cossars' and 'young Cossars'. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Not directly present, but referenced as part of the giant children cohort. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) Referred to as Brother Redwood, he is described as distracted and dreaming of love. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v) Not directly present, but the young man's speech references the giants generally, including Cossar's sons. ### [II: The Giant Lovers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii-the-giant-lovers) The giant son of Professor Redwood, who meets and falls in love with the giant Princess. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Son of Professor Redwood, seeks out and meets the giant Princess, revealing the existence of other giants. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Meets the Giant Princess and explains the truth about the Food and the giant brotherhood. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) The giant son of Professor Redwood, who meets the giant princess in secret and becomes her lover. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) The Princess's lover, who defiantly rejects the 'little people's' rules and proposes fleeing to remote lands, but acknowledges the practical challenges. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v) Arrives limping and pursued, having been shot at by police and soldiers; determined to reach the Cossar camp with the Princess. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Mentioned in newspaper placards as continuing to meet the Princess, indicating his ongoing public role. ### [IV: Redwood’s Two Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv-redwood-s-two-days) Redwood's son is mentioned as a key figure in the conflict; his photograph haunts Redwood's thoughts. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Redwood's son, whose fate is the source of Redwood's anguish. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Redwood's son, one of the Boom-children, is feared to be fighting for his life; his photographs haunt Redwood's thoughts. ### [The Prisoner and the Parley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Wounded in the fighting but reported to be doing well; he and the Princess caused a panic among soldiers. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iv) Referenced as Redwood's son, among the wounded Giants in the fastness. ### [V: The Giant Leaguer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/v-the-giant-leaguer) Seen sitting with the Princess, weary and in conversation; wounded but alive. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/i) Redwood's son, wounded but not seriously, according to Cossar. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/ii) Seen sitting with the Giant Princess, whispering intimately, representing the new generation's concerns. ### [The Gathering of the Giants](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/chapters/iii) Speaks for the Giants, rejecting Caterham's offer and articulating their philosophy of endless growth. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_food_of_the_gods_se/characters/young_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