# Sub-Warden — Sylvie and Bruno character guide

> Sub-Warden in Sylvie and Bruno by Lewis Carroll.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Vice - Warden, Warden

**First appearance:** 0002-volume-i-ii-l-amie-inconnue

## Snapshot

The Warden's smooth, self-serving brother, who takes power as Vice-Warden and treats the office as a license for quiet plunder.

## Who they are

The Sub-Warden maneuvers through the Warden's departure with oily deference and a signed agreement he has no intention of honoring, while his wife preens as Her Excellency. His flattery of the Warden and his private scorn for his own son reveal a man governed entirely by appetite and appearance. He matters because his guardianship of the Treasury and of young Bruno sets the political machinery of Fairyland turning against the children.

## Relationships

### [Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se/characters/narrator)

_professional_

The Sub-Warden is a bureaucratic figure in the fairy world, with whom the Narrator has formal, often tense dealings.

### [Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se/characters/narrator)

_professional_

The Sub-Warden is a bureaucratic figure in the fairy world, with whom the Narrator has formal, often tense dealings.

### [Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se/characters/narrator)

_professional_

The Sub-Warden is a bureaucratic figure in the fairy world, with whom the Narrator has formal, often tense dealings.

## In the story

### [I: Less Bread! More Taxes!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se/chapters/volume-i-i-less-bread-more-taxes)

Referred to as the Vice-Warden; the crowd shouts for him, and the Chancellor orchestrates the protest in his absence.

### [I: Less Bread! More Taxes!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se/chapters/volume-i-i-less-bread-more-taxes)

Father of Sylvie and Bruno; discusses lessons with them and introduces the Professor.

### [II: L'Amie Inconnue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se/chapters/volume-i-ii-l-amie-inconnue)

Present at the breakfast, complains about Uggug, and engages in conversation with the Professor about the plunge-bath.

### [III: Birthday-Presents](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se/chapters/volume-i-iii-birthday-presents)

Schemes with the Lord Chancellor to fabricate a revolution and advance his own position; abuses Uggug for wasting butter.

### [III: Birthday-Presents](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se/chapters/volume-i-iii-birthday-presents)

Returns with Sylvie and Bruno; sees through the fabricated revolution but accepts responsibility for the orders.

### [IV: A Cunning Conspiracy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se/chapters/volume-i-iv-a-cunning-conspiracy)

Appointed Vice-Warden; conspires with Chancellor to alter the agreement for personal gain.

### [VI: The Magic Locket](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se/chapters/volume-i-vi-the-magic-locket)

Plots with his Lady to hide Sylvie and Bruno from the Ambassador to pass Uggug off as the heir.

### [VII: The Baron’s Embassy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se/chapters/volume-i-vii-the-baron-s-embassy)

Schemes with his wife to deceive the Baron about Uggug's abilities.

### [A Jester and a Bear](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se/chapters/volume-i-ix-a-jester-and-a-bear)

Angrily disciplines Uggug and the Professor; conspires with his wife to deceive Uggug with disguises.

### [XXIV: The Beggar's Return](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxiv-the-beggar-s-return)

Kneels before the beggar and asks forgiveness, revealed as the Emperor.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se/characters/sub_warden
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sylvie_and_bruno_se/characters