# John Carter — A Princess of Mars character guide > John Carter in A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Captain Carter, Captain Jack Carter **First appearance:** 0003-i-on-the-arizona-hills ## Snapshot A Virginia fighting man torn from Earth to Mars, he wins the loyalty of green warriors and the heart of a princess with nothing but courage and an unteachable will. ## Who they are Thrown onto Barsoom with no way home, Carter survives by strength and instinct, rising from captive to chieftain among the Tharks. His blunt Earth honesty collides with Martian custom at every turn — most painfully when he calls Dejah Thoris his princess without knowing he must first ask her hand. His refusal to accept 'too late' drives the middle of the book, as he gambles his life and an entire planet's future on love. ## Relationships ### [Dejah Thoris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters/dejah_thoris) _romantic_ John Carter and Dejah Thoris share an intense, immediate romantic bond that drives much of the story. ### [Tars Tarkas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters/tars_tarkas) _friendship_ John Carter and Tars Tarkas form a deep, brotherly friendship based on mutual respect and shared battles. ### [Kantos Kan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters/kantos_kan) _friendship_ Kantos Kan becomes a loyal friend and ally to John Carter, aiding him in his quest to rescue Dejah Thoris. ### [Than Kosis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters/than_kosis) _professional_ John Carter meets Than Kosis as a diplomatic envoy and later as a military opponent, maintaining a formal, adversarial relationship. ### [Dejah Thoris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters/dejah_thoris) _romantic_ John Carter and Dejah Thoris share an intense, immediate romantic bond that drives much of the story. ### [Tars Tarkas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters/tars_tarkas) _friendship_ John Carter and Tars Tarkas form a deep, brotherly friendship based on mutual respect and shared battles. ### [Kantos Kan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters/kantos_kan) _friendship_ Kantos Kan becomes a loyal friend and ally to John Carter, aiding him in his quest to rescue Dejah Thoris. ### [Than Kosis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters/than_kosis) _professional_ John Carter meets Than Kosis as a diplomatic envoy and later as a military opponent, maintaining a formal, adversarial relationship. ## In the story ### [A Princess of Mars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/a-princess-of-mars) Narrator and protagonist, newly arrived on Mars and captured by Tharks. ### [I: On the Arizona Hills](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/i-on-the-arizona-hills) Narrator and protagonist; a Confederate veteran prospecting in Arizona. ### [The Escape of the Dead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/ii-the-escape-of-the-dead) Paralyzed by a mysterious gas, he breaks free through sheer willpower and experiences an out-of-body separation from his physical form. ### [III: My Advent on Mars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/iii-my-advent-on-mars) Naked and unarmed, Carter awakens on Mars and demonstrates superhuman leaping ability, which astonishes the Green Martians and saves his life. ### [A Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/iv-a-prisoner) Narrator and protagonist, captured and brought to the Green Martian city. ### [V: I Elude My Watch Dog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/v-i-elude-my-watch-dog) Narrator and protagonist; attempts escape from the green Martians. ### [A Fight That Won Friends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/vi-a-fight-that-won-friends) Demonstrates bravery and compassion by fighting the ape and protecting his watch-thing. ### [VII: Child-Raising on Mars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/vii-child-raising-on-mars) Observes the hatching and child-rearing customs, continues learning Martian language and telepathy, and demonstrates his leaping ability to Lorquas Ptomel. ### [A Fair Captive from the Sky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/viii-a-fair-captive-from-the-sky) Observes the battle from a building, feels a strange yearning toward the unknown foemen, and is deeply moved by the sight of the captive woman. ### [I Learn the Language](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/ix-i-learn-the-language) Continues learning the Martian language and weapons training; resolves to seek Sola's help to escape with the captive princess. ### [X: Champion and Chief](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/x-champion-and-chief) Becomes a Tharkian chieftain after killing his adversary; defends Dejah Thoris and wins Woola's loyalty. ### [With Dejah Thoris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xi-with-dejah-thoris) Takes charge of Dejah Thoris's protection, threatens Sarkoja, learns about Thark rank structure, and discusses Martian history with Dejah Thoris. ### [XII: A Prisoner with Power](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xii-a-prisoner-with-power) Warned by Lorquas Ptomel about suspicions of escape; resolves to free Dejah Thoris; secures quarters near her. ### [XIII: Lovemaking on Mars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xiii-lovemaking-on-mars) Trains thoats with kindness, walks alone with Dejah Thoris, and realizes his love for her. ### [XIV: A Duel to the Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xiv-a-duel-to-the-death) Struggles with his love for Dejah Thoris and his sense of honor; secures her release from chains; reflects on his Earth past. ### [XV: Sola Tells Me Her Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xv-sola-tells-me-her-story) Wounded in duel with Zad, recovers quickly due to Martian medicine; promises to hear Sola's story. ### [We Plan Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xvi-we-plan-escape) Overhears the Thark trap and returns to Dejah Thoris; proposes a new escape plan via the northern waterway. ### [XVII: A Costly Recapture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xvii-a-costly-recapture) Sacrifices himself to allow Sola and Dejah Thoris to escape, then later rescues Dejah Thoris from Tal Hajus and leads the escape. ### [Chained in Warhoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xviii-chained-in-warhoon) Captured by Warhoons, chained in a dungeon, and driven to madness before killing his jailer and finding keys. ### [XIX: Battling in the Arena](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xix-battling-in-the-arena) Imprisoned, then forced to fight in the arena; feigns death to escape. ### [In the Atmosphere Factory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xx-in-the-atmosphere-factory) Recuperating and disguising himself as a red Martian; learns the secrets of the atmosphere plant and faces a moral dilemma. ### [An Air Scout for Zodanga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xxi-an-air-scout-for-zodanga) Decorated by Than Kosis for bravery and appointed padwar of The Guards; joins the air-scout squadron under a ruse to find Dejah Thoris. ### [XXII: I Find Dejah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xxii-i-find-dejah) Disguised as a Zodangan guardsman, he finds Dejah Thoris and learns of her promise to marry Sab Than. He vows to claim her despite Barsoomian customs. ### [Lost in the Sky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xxiii-lost-in-the-sky) Escapes Zodanga by air, loses his compass, and becomes lost over the dead sea bottom. ### [Tars Tarkas Finds a Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xxiv-tars-tarkas-finds-a-friend) Falls into battle, saves Tars Tarkas, reunites with Woola, challenges Tal Hajus, and proposes the rescue of Dejah Thoris. ### [XXV: The Looting of Zodanga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xxv-the-looting-of-zodanga) Leads the Thark attack, kills Than Kosis and Sab Than, rescues Kantos Kan, and proposes to Dejah Thoris. ### [Through Carnage to Joy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xxvi-through-carnage-to-joy) Leads the Thark forces in battle, orchestrates the transfer of Dejah Thoris, and is honored by Tardos Mors and Mors Kajak. ### [From Joy to Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xxvii-from-joy-to-death) Recalls the key to the atmosphere plant and races to save Barsoom, leaving Dejah Thoris in a coma. ### [At the Arizona Cave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/chapters/xxviii-at-the-arizona-cave) Narrator who awakens in the Arizona cave, reflecting on his return to Earth and his enduring love for Dejah Thoris. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters/john_carter - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_princess_of_mars_se/characters