# Peter — Heidi character guide > Peter in Heidi by Johanna Spyri. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Peter the goatherd, Goatherd Peter, Poor Peter, little Peter **First appearance:** 0002-ii-with-the-grandfather ## Snapshot The goatherd who drives his flock up the Alp each morning, he grumbles, whistles, and resents anyone who takes Heidi's attention from him. ## Who they are Peter arrives with the whole herd, Thistlefinch at the front, and treats Heidi as his natural companion on the pasture until she leaves for Frankfurt. When she returns, he sulks that she won't come with him, and his jealousy of her other friendships makes him petty and careless. His goats, his mother's hut, and his wounded pride keep the mountain world grounded in ordinary human want. ## Relationships ### [Heidi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/heidi) _friendship_ Heidi and Peter are close childhood friends who share adventures on the Alm and enjoy each other's company. ### [Grandfather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/grandfather) _social_ Grandfather is a stern but tolerant authority figure to Peter, who works as his goatherd. ### [Clara Sesemann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/clara_sesemann) _friendship_ Clara and Peter become friends during her stay in the Alps, though Peter is initially jealous of her bond with Heidi. ### [Heidi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/heidi) _friendship_ Heidi and Peter are close childhood friends who share adventures on the Alm and enjoy each other's company. ### [Heidi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/heidi) _friendship_ Heidi and Peter are close childhood friends who share adventures on the Alm and enjoy each other's company. ### [Grandfather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/grandfather) _social_ Grandfather is a stern but tolerant authority figure to Peter, who works as his goatherd. ### [Grandfather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/grandfather) _social_ Grandfather is a stern but tolerant authority figure to Peter, who works as his goatherd. ### [Clara Sesemann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/clara_sesemann) _friendship_ Clara and Peter become friends during her stay in the Alps, though Peter is initially jealous of her bond with Heidi. ## In the story ### [Part I: Heidi’s Years of Learning and Travel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/part-i-heidi-s-years-of-learning-and-travel) The goatherd who becomes Heidi's first friend in the mountains. ### [With the Grandfather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/ii-with-the-grandfather) Appears briefly with the goats, whistling as he brings the herd down from the heights. ### [On the Pasture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/iii-on-the-pasture) Leads the goats to pasture, watches over Heidi, explains the mountain and goats, and accepts Heidi's gift of bread and cheese. ### [In the Grandmother’s Hut](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/iv-in-the-grandmother-s-hut) Visits Heidi during the snow, struggles with school, and conveys his grandmother's wish to see Heidi. ### [Two Visitors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/v-two-visitors) Sees Heidi being taken away and informs the grandmother, who is distressed. ### [X: A Grandmama](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/x-a-grandmama) Referenced as the source of Heidi's belief that reading is impossible. ### [Up the Alp on a Summer Evening](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xiii-up-the-alp-on-a-summer-evening) Meets Heidi on the Alp and asks if she will come to the pasture with him. ### [XIV: On Sunday When the Church Bells Ring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xiv-on-sunday-when-the-church-bells-ring) Brings Heidi a letter from Clara and is mentioned in discussion about sending him to Frankfurt. ### [Part II: Heidi Makes Use of Her Experience](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/part-ii-heidi-makes-use-of-her-experience) Peter interacts with Heidi as she returns to her familiar mountain routines with a new perspective. ### [A Guest on the Alp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xvi-a-guest-on-the-alp) Peter arrives with the goats and grumbles that Heidi won't join him. Later, he sees the sausage and is astonished. ### [Retaliation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xvii-retaliation) Peter is jealous of the doctor's attention to Heidi and shakes his fist in anger, but later repents by raising his hands flat to the sky. ### [Winter in the Village](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xviii-winter-in-the-village) Reluctantly agrees to go to school after the Alm-Uncle's warning; accompanies Heidi to visit his grandmother. ### [Winter Still Continues](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xix-winter-still-continues) Reluctantly learns to read under Heidi's tutelage, eventually mastering the alphabet and reading hymns to his grandmother. ### [News from Distant Friends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xx-news-from-distant-friends) Appears briefly with his goats, but keeps his distance and sends furious looks at the girls. ### [Of Further Events on the Alp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xxi-of-further-events-on-the-alp) Peter is angry and jealous about the attention given to Clara and the goats, and he scowls at the girls. ### [Something Unexpected Happens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/chapters/xxii-something-unexpected-happens) Peter destroys Clara's wheelchair out of jealousy but later helps Heidi support Clara. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters/peter - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/heidi_se/characters