# VI: A Castle and No Dinner explained — Five Children and It

> Chapter companion for Five Children and It by E. Nesbit.

## What happens

The children are kept indoors as punishment for the previous day's mishaps, but Robert is allowed out briefly to make the day's wish. He finds the Psammead and inadvertently wishes that the others could wish without being present. The Psammead grants this, and by the time Robert returns, the others have wished for a castle. The house is replaced by a magnificent besieged castle, complete with tents and armored men. The children explore the castle but find no food, and when dinner is served, they can see the servants moving invisibly but cannot see or eat the food, leading to despair.

## Themes in this chapter

### Wish Fulfillment and Its Consequences

The children's wish for a castle leads to a besieged fortress with no food, highlighting the unintended negative outcomes of their desires.

### Family and Sibling Dynamics

The siblings must cope together with the consequences of their wishes, with Anthea trying to stay positive and Jane breaking down in tears.

### The Magic of Everyday Life

The ordinary house is transformed into a magical castle, but the mundane need for dinner remains, creating a contrast between fantasy and reality.

## Character check-ins

### Robert

Allowed out to make the wish; inadvertently causes the others to wish for a castle.

### Cyril

Present in the castle; tightens his belt ostentatiously when no food appears.

### Anthea

Tries to make the best of the situation; explores the castle with the others.

### Jane

Worries about invisible food; bursts into tears when dinner is invisible.

### The Psammead

Grants Robert's wish that the others can wish without being present; becomes faint from the effort.

### Martha

Keeps the children indoors as punishment; serves invisible dinner.

## Key lines

> So few things are amusing indoors when the sun is shining outside and you mayn't go out, however much you want to.

Indoor activities seem dull when the weather is nice and you're not allowed outside.

_Reflects the children's frustration at being confined indoors on a sunny day._

> It's no use thinking about it,' said Anthea. 'Let's go on exploring. Perhaps we might find something to eat.'

Anthea suggests they stop worrying and search the castle for food.

_Shows Anthea's practical and optimistic nature in the face of adversity._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/five_children_and_it_se/chapters/vi-a-castle-and-no-dinner
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/five_children_and_it_se/chapters