# King Ralph — Short Fiction character guide

> King Ralph in Short Fiction by George MacDonald.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0000-a-double-story

## Who they are

A king in a story.

## Relationships

### [The Princess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_21_se/characters/the_princess)

_family_

King Ralph is the father of the Princess, and their relationship involves royal duty and paternal care.

### [Ralph Rinkelmann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_21_se/characters/ralph_rinkelmann)

_psychological_

King Ralph and Ralph Rinkelmann may represent a dual identity or psychological mirror, with a complex, introspective dynamic.

### [The Princess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_21_se/characters/the_princess)

_family_

King Ralph is the father of the Princess, and their relationship involves royal duty and paternal care.

### [The Princess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_21_se/characters/the_princess)

_family_

King Ralph is the father of the Princess, and their relationship involves royal duty and paternal care.

### [Ralph Rinkelmann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_21_se/characters/ralph_rinkelmann)

_psychological_

King Ralph and Ralph Rinkelmann may represent a dual identity or psychological mirror, with a complex, introspective dynamic.

### [Ralph Rinkelmann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_21_se/characters/ralph_rinkelmann)

_psychological_

King Ralph and Ralph Rinkelmann may represent a dual identity or psychological mirror, with a complex, introspective dynamic.

## In the story

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_21_se/chapters/xiv)

Struck blind by the wise woman for his blindness of soul; sits on the steps of the dais with the queen.

### [She Can’t Be Ours](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_21_se/chapters/iii-she-can-t-be-ours)

The king who is astonished and frightened when the baby floats, and who doubts she is his child.

### [V: What Is to Be Done?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_21_se/chapters/v-what-is-to-be-done)

The king counts his money, argues with the queen, apologizes to the princess, and worries about Rosamond's future.

### [She Laughs Too Much](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_21_se/chapters/vi-she-laughs-too-much)

The princess's father, who is hurt and indignant when she kisses a page.

### [Try a Drop of Water](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_21_se/chapters/viii-try-a-drop-of-water)

The king, her father, tries to make her cry by whipping her, but fails; he also restricts her movements due to her lack of gravity.

### [XIII: Here I Am](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_21_se/chapters/xiii-here-i-am)

The king, frustrated by the lack of volunteers, initially rages at the prince but eventually grants his condition for the sacrifice.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_21_se/characters/king_ralph
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_21_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_21_se/characters