At the beginning of the story, Matthias is a young mouse who is a novice in the Order of Redwall. He is described as clumsy, unsure of himself, and wearing clothing that is much too big for him: “He paused to gaze upwards at the cloudless blue sky and tripped over the enormous sandals. Hazelnuts scattered out upon the grass from the rush basket he was carrying. Unable to stop, he went tumbling cowl over tail” (13).

Unlike the other mice of the order, Matthias dreams of becoming a warrior. This occupation is at odds with the pacifist rules of Redwall. Throughout the novel, Matthias transforms from an awkward adolescent into a warrior. While the rest of the woodlanders are engaged in defending Redwall, Matthias frequently goes forth on solo missions that take him far from the abbey. Each quest helps him learn how to be the hero he’s aspired to be. By the end of the story, he has acquired the skills and fortitude to defeat Cluny and save Redwall. He also realizes that he was not meant to be a quiet little monk but the defender of the abbey.