Anna Robinson's farming background provides crucial agricultural expertise for her family's deserted island survival, enabling effective crop cultivation. As matriarch, she oversees food preparation, animal care, and household maintenance, displaying adaptability. She embodies traditional maternal qualities, nurturing her children and preserving family unity. Her protective instincts emerge when confronting threats like jackals, contrasting with an initial fear of small wildlife such as mice and lizards. Her relationship with the indigenous boy TamTom evolves from distrust—fueled by his behavior and attempts to influence her youngest son—to acceptance and care after recognizing his good intentions and shared humanity.

Anna collaborates practically with her husband Ernest, supporting his leadership while contributing her knowledge. She nurses Jack through illness, integrates TamTom into the family by teaching him academic skills, and shows compassion by giving Eric Bates a proper burial and documenting his story. Throughout the ordeal, she transitions from dependence on civilized comforts to proficient wilderness management, balancing resourcefulness with emotional warmth. She upholds family traditions and education despite isolation. Faced with volcanic threats, she participates in constructing an escape vessel. Her journey concludes with resettlement in Australia, where she reestablishes domestic stability.