# Saint Peter — Short Fiction character guide

> Saint Peter in Short Fiction by Selma Lagerlöf.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0066-our-lord-and-saint-peter

## Snapshot

The weary apostle who trudged the world beside Our Lord, forever doubting that Paradise could be worth the cold and hunger of the road.

## Who they are

Peter has walked from door to door with Christ, begging houseroom on stormy nights, and cannot always fathom why the Lord of all the world should endure such hardship. Now seated on Paradise Mountain, he looks back on that wandering with relief and a lingering, human doubt. His memory of the frozen bullfinch thrown over the wall—and the trill that answered—becomes the story's quiet proof that faith is earned by cold and waiting, not granted.

## In the story

### [Our Lord and Saint Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/our-lord-and-saint-peter)

Newly arrived in Paradise but grieving over his mother's exclusion; becomes angry and demands to leave.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/ii)

Appears in the fool's story, lamenting the Crusaders' violence and questioning their piety.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/characters/saint_peter
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/characters