The Maid of Sker · Character
Justice Anthony Stew
A hatchet-faced local magistrate who has made a study of Davy and never lets an acquittal stand in the way of a sneer.
supporting
Also known as Anthony Stew, Stew, Justice Stew, Pen Coed, Squire Stew
First appearance: the maid of sker
As a supporting figure in The Maid of Sker, Justice Anthony Stew is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Squire Stew is the aggressive magistrate who interrogates Davy, accusing him of selling bad fish and threatening him with the stocks.
Squire Stew arrives at Davy's own house with Sir Philip, seated on the best chairs, and reopens the fish-selling and poaching questions Davy thought settled. He distrusts truth unless it comes out to his own corkscrew, and his contempt for the fisherman is personal, studied, and relentless. His presence turns a peaceful errand into a test of Davy's wit and temper, and his feud with the narrator colors every local encounter in the early chapters.
Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.
Character Web
18 connectionsA slice of how Justice Anthony Stew sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Professional
- Other
Character groups
- Extended cast and background figures
- Main characters and allies
- Protagonist
- Minor local associates
+13 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak where the protagonis…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Sir Philip Bampfylde
professional · ambivalent
Justice Anthony Stew and Sir Philip interact as legal and social authorities in the… How this plays out →
- Sir Philip Bampfylde
professional · ambivalent
Justice Anthony Stew and Sir Philip interact as legal and social authorities in the… How this plays out →
- Sir Philip Bampfylde
professional · ambivalent
Justice Anthony Stew and Sir Philip interact as legal and social authorities in the… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Justice Anthony Stew in the maid of skerIn the story
Justice Anthony Stew appears across 4 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Justice Anthony Stew unlock in the free preview.
See Justice Anthony Stew in the maid of sker