# The Captain — The Magic City character guide

> The Captain in The Magic City by E. Nesbit.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** captain

**First appearance:** 0008-vii-the-dwellers-by-the-sea

## Snapshot

A sharp-tongued officer of the city guard who interrogates Philip as the first trespasser in its history and informs him he must be prosecuted before he can go home.

## Who they are

The Captain commands the redcoat guard posted expressly to prevent the trespasser the city's astrologers foretold—and Philip is that trespasser. Gruff, amused, and scrupulous about his dusty black ledger, he punctures Philip's bookish notions of persecution with the flat news that judges, not disguises, will decide his fate. He embodies the city's rules and its long foreknowledge of Philip, turning a boy's adventure into a matter of prophecy and consequence.

## Relationships

### [Philip Haldane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magic_city_se/characters/philip_haldane)

_professional_

Philip interacts with The Captain as a leader or authority figure within the magical city's hierarchy.

### [Philip Haldane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magic_city_se/characters/philip_haldane)

_professional_

Philip interacts with The Captain as a leader or authority figure within the magical city's hierarchy.

### [Philip Haldane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magic_city_se/characters/philip_haldane)

_professional_

Philip interacts with The Captain as a leader or authority figure within the magical city's hierarchy.

## In the story

### [Deliverer or Destroyer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magic_city_se/chapters/ii-deliverer-or-destroyer)

Leader of the guards, questions Philip and Lucy, explains the prophecies about the trespasser and deliverer.

### [X: The Great Sloth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magic_city_se/chapters/x-the-great-sloth)

Mentioned as part of the crew on the Lightning Loose, but not directly active in this chapter.

### [XI: The Night Attack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magic_city_se/chapters/xi-the-night-attack)

In hiding in the prison, provides supper and information about the Pretenderette's takeover; marches with Caesar to the main gate.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magic_city_se/characters/the_captain
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magic_city_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_magic_city_se/characters