# Anthea — The Phoenix and the Carpet character guide > Anthea in The Phoenix and the Carpet by E. Nesbit. **Role:** major **Also known as:** the truthful Anthea, So Anthea **First appearance:** 0002-i-the-egg ## Snapshot The conscience-stricken eldest girl, quick to mend both carpets and mistakes, whose careful darning and quicker wishes steer her siblings through magic they never quite deserve. ## Who they are Anthea is the sister who feels every mishap as her own fault, from a badly darned hole to a forgotten brother, and who reaches for the poker to give her mother a believable reason for red eyes. She wants to be good and truthful, yet the carpet keeps demanding small deceits and large courage. Her blend of tenderness and nerve holds the children's adventures together when the Phoenix is asleep and the boys are pricking their fingers. ## Relationships ### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/characters/mother) _family_ Anthea is the responsible eldest daughter who often assists her mother with household duties and caring for the younger siblings. ### [Cyril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/characters/cyril) _family_ Anthea and Cyril are siblings who frequently collaborate on adventures, with Anthea often acting as the more cautious and sensible counterpart to Cyril's boldness. ### [The Phoenix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/characters/the_phoenix) _friendship_ Anthea shares a respectful and caring friendship with the Phoenix, often seeking its advice and protecting it from harm. ### [The Lamb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/characters/the_lamb) _family_ Anthea is the nurturing older sister to the baby Lamb, frequently looking after him and keeping him out of trouble. ### [Robert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/characters/robert) _family_ Anthea and Robert are siblings who often work together, with Anthea sometimes mediating Robert's impulsive tendencies. ### [Jane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/characters/jane) _family_ Anthea and Jane are sisters who share a close, supportive bond, with Anthea often guiding the more timid Jane. ### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/characters/mother) _family_ Anthea is the responsible eldest daughter who often assists her mother with household duties and caring for the younger siblings. ### [Cyril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/characters/cyril) _family_ Anthea and Cyril are siblings who frequently collaborate on adventures, with Anthea often acting as the more cautious and sensible counterpart to Cyril's boldness. ### [The Phoenix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/characters/the_phoenix) _friendship_ Anthea shares a respectful and caring friendship with the Phoenix, often seeking its advice and protecting it from harm. ### [The Lamb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/characters/the_lamb) _family_ Anthea is the nurturing older sister to the baby Lamb, frequently looking after him and keeping him out of trouble. ### [Robert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/characters/robert) _family_ Anthea and Robert are siblings who often work together, with Anthea sometimes mediating Robert's impulsive tendencies. ### [The Phoenix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/characters/the_phoenix) _friendship_ Anthea shares a respectful and caring friendship with the Phoenix, often seeking its advice and protecting it from harm. ## In the story ### [The Phoenix and the Carpet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/chapters/the-phoenix-and-the-carpet) Present when the egg hatches and first to speak with the Phoenix. ### [The Egg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/chapters/i-the-egg) Tries to keep the peace and suggests testing fireworks; later listens to the Phoenix's story. ### [The Topless Tower](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/chapters/ii-the-topless-tower) Comforts the Phoenix; tells the story of the Psammead; suggests the Phoenix can help. ### [The Queen Cook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/chapters/iii-the-queen-cook) Concerned about the cook's safety and tries to reason with her; later feels guilty about the cook's departure. ### [IV: Two Bazaars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/chapters/iv-two-bazaars) Feels guilty about keeping the carpet secret and tries to tell mother the truth, but is dismissed. Leads the attempt to recover the carpet from Mrs. Biddle. ### [The Temple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/chapters/v-the-temple) Looks for the Phoenix; suggests the diamond mines of Golconda; recites the rain rhyme. ### [VI: Doing Good](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/chapters/vi-doing-good) Suggests using the carpet to do a good and kind action; feels uneasy about keeping secrets from mother. ### [VII: Mews from Persia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/chapters/vii-mews-from-persia) Suggests sending the carpet for food and proposes selling the cats for money. ### [VIII: The Cats, the Cow, and the Burglar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/chapters/viii-the-cats-the-cow-and-the-burglar) Tries to soothe the cats and the cow, shows bravery despite fear of cows. ### [IX: The Burglar's Bride](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/chapters/ix-the-burglar-s-bride) Leads the carpet-mending effort and suggests rescuing the burglar. ### [X: The Hole in the Carpet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/chapters/x-the-hole-in-the-carpet) Darns the carpet hastily, leading to the hole; feels guilty when Robert and Jane fall through; wishes for a way to get Mother a present she'll believe in. ### [XI: The Beginning of the End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/chapters/xi-the-beginning-of-the-end) Suggests using Tatcho on the carpet; cares for the Lamb; worries about parents' reaction to the fire. ### [The End of the End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/chapters/xii-the-end-of-the-end) Struggles to speak indirectly about the Phoenix's departure; builds a card-house for the Lamb; remains dry-eyed when the Lamb disappears on the carpet. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/characters/anthea - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_phoenix_and_the_carpet_se/characters