# Caitilin Ni Murrachu — The Crock of Gold character guide > Caitilin Ni Murrachu in The Crock of Gold by James Stephens. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Caitilin, Murrachu **First appearance:** 0001-i ## Snapshot A farmer's daughter whose simple answer that Happiness is the greatest thing draws both Pan and Angus Óg into a contest for her. ## Who they are Caitilin Ni Murrachu is Meehawl's daughter, a girl who milks goats on the hillside and gives herself to Pan without fuss or forethought. When Angus Óg asks her to judge between the two gods, she stands in genuine distress, unwilling to wound either, and her indecision is not weakness but a kind of honesty the gods themselves lack. Her choice, whatever it becomes, is the hinge on which the book's meditation on Thought and Intuition turns. ## Relationships ### [Pan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/pan) _romantic_ Caitilin is deeply infatuated with Pan, drawn by his wild, pagan allure, while Pan is intrigued by her mortal beauty and innocence. ### [Angus Óg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/angus_og) _romantic_ Angus Óg, the god of love, pursues Caitilin with gentle persistence, offering her a spiritual love that contrasts with Pan's wildness. ### [Shepherd Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/shepherd_girl) _social_ Caitilin and the Shepherd Girl are acquaintances who share a rural community, with Caitilin sometimes seeking her advice. ### [Seumas Beg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/seumas_beg) _friendship_ Caitilin is kind to Seumas Beg, treating him like a younger brother or a favored child in the community. ### [Angus Óg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/angus_og) _romantic_ Angus Óg, the god of love, pursues Caitilin with gentle persistence, offering her a spiritual love that contrasts with Pan's wildness. ### [Pan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/pan) _romantic_ Caitilin is deeply infatuated with Pan, drawn by his wild, pagan allure, while Pan is intrigued by her mortal beauty and innocence. ### [Seumas Beg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/seumas_beg) _friendship_ Caitilin is kind to Seumas Beg, treating him like a younger brother or a favored child in the community. ### [Shepherd Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/shepherd_girl) _social_ Caitilin and the Shepherd Girl are acquaintances who share a rural community, with Caitilin sometimes seeking her advice. ### [Seumas Beg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/seumas_beg) _friendship_ Caitilin is kind to Seumas Beg, treating him like a younger brother or a favored child in the community. ### [Pan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/pan) _romantic_ Caitilin is deeply infatuated with Pan, drawn by his wild, pagan allure, while Pan is intrigued by her mortal beauty and innocence. ### [Angus Óg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/angus_og) _romantic_ Angus Óg, the god of love, pursues Caitilin with gentle persistence, offering her a spiritual love that contrasts with Pan's wildness. ## In the story ### [Book I: The Coming of Pan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/book-i-the-coming-of-pan) Caitilin is introduced and becomes entangled with Pan's presence. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/i) Not present in this chapter; the little girl is unnamed but is likely Caitilin, though not explicitly identified. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/vi) A shepherd girl experiencing a profound inner disquietude; she is drawn to Pan's philosophy and his call to embrace the depths of nature. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/vii) Meehawl's missing daughter, believed to have been taken by Pan, described as a strong milker and timid. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/ix) Washes and feeds the children; debates with Pan about poverty and hunger. ### [Book II: The Philosopher’s Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/book-ii-the-philosopher-s-journey) Encountered by the Philosopher in the cave with Pan. ### [The Philosopher's Quest and Confrontation with Pan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/x) Caitilin is seen naked by the Philosopher as she milks a goat and enters the cave. He pushes her aside harshly when he confronts Pan. ### [Book III: The Two Gods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/book-iii-the-two-gods) Present in the cave with Pan, central to the contest between the two gods. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/xii) Sits alone in the cave, reflecting on the awakening of her body and mind, and the nature of happiness. She is torn between Pan and Angus Óg, ultimately choosing to follow Angus Óg out of love. ### [Book IV: The Philosopher’s Return](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/book-iv-the-philosopher-s-return) Present in the cave with Pan when the Philosopher arrives. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/xiii) Appears as the young woman who speaks of her love for a furious youth, expressing confidence that he will come to love her. ### [Book VI: The Thin Woman’s Journey and the Happy March](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/book-vi-the-thin-woman-s-journey-and-the-happy-march) Involved in the happy march ### [XVIII: The Happy March](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/chapters/xviii-the-happy-march) Sits alone in the Brugh of Angus, contemplating happiness and her unity with all humanity; she dances with the Shee and learns of her coming son. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters/caitilin_ni_murrachu - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_crock_of_gold_se/characters