Shasta begins the story as an uneducated boy of around 11 or 12 who is being raised as the son of a fisherman in the land of Calormen. The fisherman makes certain to keep Shasta uneducated, cautioning and sometimes punishing him for asking about the mysterious lands to the north. Though he has never seen his own reflection, Shasta knows that his appearance is different than the Calormenes around him, who have dark complexions and hair. It seems likely that the fisherman intentionally keeps Shasta close to his home, so few people know he harbors a foreign-born child.

Though he has lived a sheltered life, Shasta is extremely curious about the larger world. He is dutiful, trustworthy, and a quick learner, and Shasta’s finer, nobler qualities appear gradually throughout the course of the narrative. His courage and integrity are demonstrated repeatedly in several frightening and dangerous circumstances. By the end of the story, he is willing to ride into battle to defend Archenland even before he realizes he is Cor, the crown prince of the country he ultimately saves. Shasta is heroic yet relatable. Like any other boy his age, Shasta experiences negative as well as positive emotions.