Character Relationship Map: John Carter

Characters

• John Carter (played by Taylor Kitsch) — protagonist

  Former Confederate captain transported to Mars via a Thern medallion. Adapts to lower gravity with super strength and jumping ability. Allies with the Tharks, rescues Princess Dejah Thoris, becomes Th...

• Dejah Thoris (played by Lynn Collins) — protagonist

  Princess of Helium engaged in a millennium war with Zodanga. Escapes an arranged marriage to Sab Than and is rescued by Carter. Reluctantly agrees to the wedding to save her city but plans for Carter'...

• Sola (played by Samantha Morton) — supporting

  Daughter of Thark Jeddak Tars Tarkas. Assists Carter and Dejah in discovering that Thern medallions are powered by a ninth ray and seeks a way for Carter to return to Earth. Captured alongside them, r...

• Matai Shang (played by Mark Strong) — supporting

  Leader of the Therns, an ancient race that manipulates planetary civilizations and feeds off their resources. Arms Sab Than with a powerful weapon and orchestrates the war. Forces Carter to return to...

• Edgar Rice Burroughs (played by Daryl Sabara) — supporting
• Tars Tarkas (played by Willem Dafoe) — supporting

  Jeddak of the nomadic Thark tribe. Initially captures Carter but later allies with him. Overthrown by Tal Hajus, survives an arena battle alongside Carter, and aids the Thark army in storming Zodanga...

• Sab Than (played by Dominic West) — supporting

  Jeddak of Zodanga who proposes a ceasefire by marrying the Princess of Helium. Armed with a special weapon from Matai Shang, he attempts to claim Dejah Thoris. His forces are defeated by Carter's Thar...

• Tal Hajus (played by Thomas Haden Church) — supporting

  Ruthless Thark warrior who overthrows Tars Tarkas. Forces Carter and an injured Tarkas to fight enormous Great White-Apes in an arena. Carter kills him in combat, thereby earning the loyalty of the Th...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Sab Than → Matai Shang (Power Political Instrument) — Shang uses Sab Than as a chosen ruler and agent of the Thern plan.

  Sab Than receives a special weapon from Matai Shang, while Shang explains that the Therns choose rulers to manipulate civilizations.

• Sola → Tars Tarkas (Family Daughter) — Sola's loyalty to her father motivates her assistance during the Thark succession crisis.

  The plot identifies Sola as Tarkas's daughter, and she returns to the Tharks after his overthrow.

• Dejah Thoris → Sab Than (Romantic Forced Fiancé) — Their proposed marriage is political coercion rather than mutual romance.

  Sab Than proposes ending the war by marrying Dejah, and she later grudgingly agrees to the wedding to save her city.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Edgar Rice Burroughs → Matai Shang (Conflict Witnessed Enemy) — Burroughs witnesses the final confrontation with the surviving Thern threat.

  A Thern appears at Carter's tomb, raises a weapon, and is shot by Carter in front of Burroughs.

• Tars Tarkas → Tal Hajus (Conflict Rival Leader) — Their struggle concerns control of the Tharks and the legitimacy of leadership.

  Tal Hajus overthrows Tars Tarkas and later forces the injured Tarkas into an arena battle.

• Sola → Matai Shang (Conflict Adversary) — Shang obstructs Sola's journey and threatens the group she supports.

  Shang directs the attack by the Warhoon after Sola, Carter, and Dejah discover the ninth ray.

• Sola → Tal Hajus (Conflict Political Opponent) — Hajus threatens Sola's family and tribal order.

  Tal Hajus overthrows Sola's father, Tars Tarkas, and Sola returns with Carter to help reclaim Thark leadership.

• Dejah Thoris → Matai Shang (Conflict Enemy Manipulator) — Shang's schemes endanger Dejah's city, freedom, and political future.

  Shang directs the Warhoon attack that disrupts Dejah and Carter's journey and later helps drive the conflict threatening Helium.

• Dejah Thoris → Tars Tarkas (Alliance Political Ally) — Their alliance is expressed through the Tharks' defense of Helium.

  Tars Tarkas later supports Carter's campaign, which frees Dejah's city from Sab Than's attack.

• Dejah Thoris → Sola (Alliance Traveling Ally) — Sola supports Dejah during their dangerous journey across Barsoom.

  Dejah travels with Sola and Carter to the sacred river to investigate the medallion and the ninth ray.

• John Carter → Matai Shang (Conflict Strategic Enemy) — Shang is the hidden force behind Carter's displacement and the planetary conflict.

  Shang explains that the Therns manipulate civilizations and later sends Carter back to Earth as a challenge; Carter ultimately kills the Thern near th...

• John Carter → Sab Than (Conflict Battle Opponent) — Sab Than's attempt to dominate Helium places him directly against Carter.

  Carter defeats the Zodangan army during the assault on Helium, and Sab Than is killed during the final assault.

• John Carter → Tal Hajus (Conflict Mortal Enemy) — Carter defeats Tal Hajus and gains leadership of the Tharks.

  Tal Hajus overthrows Tarkas and forces Carter and the injured Tarkas to fight Great White-Apes before Carter kills Hajus.

• John Carter → Tars Tarkas (Alliance Prisoner Turned Ally) — Their relationship changes from captivity to military and personal alliance.

  Tars Tarkas initially captures Carter, but later allies with him and fights beside him in the arena and final campaign.

• John Carter → Sola (Alliance Teammate) — Sola repeatedly assists Carter during the search for a way home and the struggle against his enemies.

  Sola travels with Carter and Dejah to the sacred river and later returns with Carter to seek help from the Tharks.

Story Analysis

A displaced soldier discovers a larger planetary conflict, finds belonging on Barsoom, and outwits the Thern who controls his fate.

Plot Progression

1. The Tomb and the Medallion — Burroughs receives Carter's journal after Carter's mysterious death. The flashback follows Carter's escape in Arizona and his accidental activation of a Thern medallion.
2. A Stranger on Barsoom — Carter arrives on Barsoom, discovers extraordinary physical abilities, and is captured by the Tharks. He meets Tars Tarkas and Sola while the conflict between Helium and Zodanga escalates.
3. The Ninth Ray's Secret — Carter rescues Dejah and travels with her and Sola to the sacred river. Their discovery of the ninth ray is followed by a Warhoon attack, capture, and Shang's revelation about the Therns.
4. The Thark Rebellion — Carter escapes and seeks help from the Tharks, only to find Tal Hajus ruling after overthrowing Tarkas. Carter and the injured Tarkas win the arena fight and restore a new order.
5. Helium's Last Stand — The Tharks seize Zodangan airships and fly to Helium. Carter defeats Sab Than's army, marries Dejah, is sent back to Earth by Shang, and turns the tomb into a trap.