# Cosmo von Wehrstahl — Phantastes character guide

> Cosmo von Wehrstahl in Phantastes by George MacDonald.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Poor Cosmo, Cosmo, himself

**First appearance:** 0003-phantastes

## Snapshot

A proud young student who buys an enchanted mirror and becomes obsessed with the beautiful lady he sees within it.

## Who they are

Cosmo is a solitary scholar whose longing for beauty draws him to a strange dealer's mirror, purchased on a whim and a promise to offer it back first if he ever wishes to sell. His flaw is the very pride that makes him believe he can possess what he desires without cost, and his growing fixation on the woman in the glass isolates him from the ordinary world. His bargain and his obsession drive the tale's central mystery, since the mirror's history — sold six times before — hints that others have paid dearly for the same vision.

## Relationships

### [The Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phantastes_se/characters/the_lady)

_romantic_

Cosmo is deeply infatuated with the Lady, pursuing her with intense romantic longing and magical obsession.

### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phantastes_se/characters/unknown_narrator)

_psychological_

Cosmo and the narrator share a strange, mirror-like connection, with Cosmo's story reflecting the narrator's own inner journey.

### [Pussy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phantastes_se/characters/pussy)

_friendship_

Pussy serves as a loyal familiar to Cosmo, assisting him in his magical pursuits.

### [The Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phantastes_se/characters/the_woman)

_psychological_

The Woman is a manipulative, witch-like figure who ensnares Cosmo with dark magic and obsession.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phantastes_se/characters/v)

_social_

V and Cosmo have a brief, indirect connection through the Lady, with V acting as a wary observer.

### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phantastes_se/characters/unknown_narrator)

_psychological_

Cosmo and the narrator share a strange, mirror-like connection, with Cosmo's story reflecting the narrator's own inner journey.

### [The Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phantastes_se/characters/the_lady)

_romantic_

Cosmo is deeply infatuated with the Lady, pursuing her with intense romantic longing and magical obsession.

### [The Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phantastes_se/characters/the_lady)

_romantic_

Cosmo is deeply infatuated with the Lady, pursuing her with intense romantic longing and magical obsession.

### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phantastes_se/characters/unknown_narrator)

_psychological_

Cosmo and the narrator share a strange, mirror-like connection, with Cosmo's story reflecting the narrator's own inner journey.

### [Pussy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phantastes_se/characters/pussy)

_friendship_

Pussy serves as a loyal familiar to Cosmo, assisting him in his magical pursuits.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phantastes_se/characters/v)

_social_

V and Cosmo have a brief, indirect connection through the Lady, with V acting as a wary observer.

## In the story

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phantastes_se/chapters/xiii)

A poor student at Prague, solitary and imaginative, who acquires a magical mirror and sees a lady within it.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phantastes_se/characters/cosmo_von_wehrstahl
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phantastes_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/phantastes_se/characters