The White Mountains

The Tripods are a group of large, powerful, mechanical beings who exert dominion and control over humanity; they are the main antagonists of the series, which is named after them. In this first volume in the trilogy, the Tripods’ nature and purposes remain generally unknown, leaving Will to gather what little information he can about them. According to rumor, the Tripods enslave some humans, while others are hunted for sport.

The first appearance of a Tripod in the text sets them up as the ultimate and highest authority: “The booming came nearer and then, suddenly, we could see it over the roofs of the houses to the south: the great hemisphere of gleaming metal rocking through the air above the three articulated legs, several times as high as the church” (17). The fact that the Tripod towers over the church shows that not even God and religion supersede the power and influence the Tripods exercise in the lives of their human subjects.

Historically, the prominence of Tripods as vehicles for extraterrestrial invaders goes back to H. G. Wells’ 1898 novel, The War of the Worlds. The Tripods in Christopher’s novels are similar, but not identical, to their literary forebears. Christopher’s Tripods are characterized by their metallic construction, including flexible metal tentacles; their hemisphere-shaped cabins that may or may not house a biological pilot or component; their system of beeps and chirps by which they communicate; and their range of abilities and adaptations that allow them to travel by sea, search at night, and even wipe Will’s memory after he is implanted with a tracking device. Overall, the Tripods embody both the will and the means to dominate and control others, denying their individuality and freedom.

Henry Parker is Will’s cousin and one month his senior. As the novel opens, he is Will’s rival; the two frequently get into fights. Although Henry is bigger and stronger, Will’s speed sometimes allows him to win. Henry’s first appearance as a bully who takes the watch from Will and then gloats over him sets a contentious tone for their relationship that persists throughout much of the novel. However, Henry goes on to play an important role in the success of Will’s expedition to the White Mountains. As a traveling companion, Henry is insightful and observant. For instance, he hears the approaching sound of footsteps before Will does, and he is the one who spots the tracking device almost hidden under Will’s arm.

Henry’s development through the novel runs parallel to Will’s in many ways. Following the death of his mother, Henry comes to feel that there is no reason for him to stay in Wherton, which is reflected in his eagerness to accompany Will even before learning the full context of Will’s journey. At first, Henry does not get along with Will very well, and he even ties the pack to his arm to keep Will from deserting him at night. On the various occasions when Will is injured, however, Henry demonstrates a capacity for empathy and compassion, as when he cares for Will after Will injures his ankle. Though petty arguments and jealousy continue to impact their relationship, particularly in the scenes set at the castle, Henry and Will eventually come to rely on one another as they work toward a common goal.

Jean-Paul Deliet, or “Beanpole,” as Henry nicknames him, is a young man about Will’s age who joins his expedition to the White Mountains. When Will first spots Beanpole, he is struck by his somewhat eccentric appearance, including mismatched lenses that Beanpole wears as makeshift glasses of his own making. Curious, inventive, and analytical by nature, Beanpole is “much less interested in people than in ideas” (115). Among the devices he imagines are steam engines and hot air balloons. A diligent learner, Beanpole teaches himself English out of a book. When he joins Will and Henry’s expedition, Beanpole becomes something of a natural leader due to his quick wit and his balanced, unemotional outlook. For instance, it is his idea for the three boys to hide from the Tripods in the crevice of the rock rather than split up and run as Henry suggests in a moment of panic.

Beanpole is a more or less static character, as he shows little change or development. One of his most important roles is to provide a running commentary on the technologies of the past that the boys encounter on their way to the White Mountains. More often than not, Beanpole correctly ascertains the functions and mechanisms of these technologies, even though Will and Henry sometimes doubt his explanations. Beanpole thus represents the possibility for human ingenuity to be renewed and continue through generations, despite setbacks imposed by the Tripods.

Eloise is the daughter of the Comte and Comtesse de la Tour Rouge (Count and Countess of the Red Tower) and serves as a friend and eventual love interest to Will. Will first encounters Eloise when he wakes to find her caring for him while he recovers from illness. As Will’s health improves, Eloise teaches him French and shows him how to ride horses, among other things. They also go on walks and boat rides together. Eloise’s pleasant demeanor, charitable outlook, and beauty make a deep impression on Will, who begins to fall in love with her. So strong are his feelings for her that, after learning that she is Capped, Will considers being Capped himself, which would enable him to spend his life with her. When Eloise is chosen as Queen of the Tournament, she is thereby selected to spend the rest of her life in servitude in the city of the Tripods. As a Capped individual, she rejoices at this outcome, though this development has the opposite effect on Will, effectively reminding him of the Tripods’ potential to disrupt human lives and relationships for the worse.

Ozymandias is a man who poses as a Vagrant while recruiting individuals to travel to join the secret society located in the White Mountains. Though he only makes a brief appearance, Ozymandias leaves a lasting impression on Will, who decides to make the journey at his invitation. Although Ozymandias adopts the public person of a flamboyant fool, not dissimilar to that of the medieval jester, his private conversations with Will reveal that he is in full possession of his faculties—it helps that the Cap he wears is a fake. Overall, Ozymandias represents a certain kind of Romantic hero, seemingly plucked from a fairy tale, a Robin Hood-like outlaw whose charm wins others over to his cause.