As the eldest of the five Mansfield sisters, Anne functions as the story’s protagonist and the primary embodiment of defiant female autonomy. Characterized by her pride, intelligence, and fierce protectiveness, she is the leader of her siblings and the main target of the villagers’ animosity. Pete perceives her as “puzzling, peculiar” (1), and her refusal to perform meekness, such as when she wades through the river rather than submit to his control, is interpreted as a direct challenge to the patriarchal order. Her actions stem from her unflinching self-respect, which the men of Little Nettlebed find threatening. This makes her the focal point for their fears about female power, and she becomes the first sister they single out in their campaign of dehumanization.

Anne’s relationship with her sisters reveals her deep sense of responsibility. She acts as a surrogate mother, managing the household with her grandfather and providing emotional stability for the younger girls, particularly Elizabeth. While she presents a stoic and guarded exterior to the world, her interactions with her family, and later with Thomas, expose a deep capacity for care and affection. She demonstrates her strength and determination by holding her family together in the face of escalating persecution, understanding that their unity is their greatest defense.