# Saint Peter — Poetry character guide

> Saint Peter in Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Peter, Unarmed Saint Peter, Pete

**First appearance:** 0000-poetry

## Snapshot

The keeper of heaven's gate, Saint Peter appears in Bierce's verse as an unarmed, slightly baffled authority figure among the arriving souls.

## Who they are

Peter stands at the threshold of the afterlife, a saint whose job is to sort the saved from the damned but who seems ill-equipped for the crowd Bierce sends his way. He is unarmed, patient, and a little put-upon, a heavenly bureaucrat rather than a fiery apostle. His presence lets the poet stage his satire at the very gates of heaven, where earthly pretensions are finally weighed and found wanting.

## In the story

### [Shapes of Clay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/shapes-of-clay)

Appears as a gatekeeper figure, complicit in the manipulation of souls.

### [A Single Termer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-single-termer)

Saint Peter interacts with Senator Foraker at Heaven's gate, ultimately locking him in.

### [Charles and Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/charles-and-peter)

Found asleep at the Gates of Light; reluctantly admits Dana after being handed a card, but warns that Dana will make a hell wherever he goes.

### [An Alibi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/an-alibi)

Mentioned in the context of angels mourning the perjured testimony.

### [The Saint and the Monk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-saint-and-the-monk)

The gatekeeper of Heaven, initially charmed by the monk but then angered by his impudence.

### [The Scrap Heap](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-scrap-heap)

Portrayed as an unarmed and manipulated gatekeeper in the heavenly court.

### [A Commuted Sentence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-commuted-sentence)

Mentioned as having instructed Satan on the commutation response.

### [The Spirit of a Sponge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-spirit-of-a-sponge)

Deceived by Massett's false identity, he opens the gates of Heaven.

### [At the Eleventh Hour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/at-the-eleventh-hour)

Implied as the gatekeeper at Heaven's gate, though not directly named.

### [Master of Three Arts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/master-of-three-arts)

Imagined at Heaven's gate, condemning Goldenson for his rhymes rather than his murder.

### [Unarmed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/unarmed)

Unarmed gatekeeper who calmly denies Senator White entry, questioning his self-serving voting record.

### [Mr. Sheets](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/mr-sheets)

The sleepy saint examines the ticket and refuses entry to Clay Sheets.

### [One and One Are Two](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/one-and-one-are-two)

Manages the wicket, initially challenges Pickering's entry, then allows him in after his confession.

### [The Gates Ajar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/the-gates-ajar)

Calls Tom Shannon to the heavenly court.

### [A Hasty Inference](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/a-hasty-inference)

The gatekeeper who admits Satan for a consultation with the Master.

### [In Upper San Francisco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/in-upper-san-francisco)

Referenced as the gatekeeper who eyes the narrator sharply.

### [Accepted](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/accepted)

The gatekeeper of heaven who initially denies Shortridge but is persuaded by the sinner's clever words.

### [One of the Redeemed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/one-of-the-redeemed)

Saint Peter stands at the Gate, greets Renan, and dismisses the preacher Mansfield's accusations.

### [Chapter CX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/cx)

Assigns the deceased woman to wash cherubim's faces.

### [CCXXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/chapters/ccxxxv)

Guards the Gate and rebukes Memory and Satan.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/characters/saint_peter
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_se/characters