# Pekuah — The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia character guide > Pekuah in The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** the Lady Pekuah, Lady Pekuah **First appearance:** 0034-xxxiii-the-princess-meets-with-an-unexpected-misfortune ## Snapshot Nekayah's favorite attendant, whose kidnapping during a pyramid excursion turns an abstract debate about sorrow into something the travelers must actually survive. ## Who they are Pekuah is the princess's closest companion, a lady whose wit and loyalty make her more confidante than servant. When she is seized during a visit to the pyramids, her absence forces Nekayah and the others to confront grief they had only theorized about, and her captivity tests whether patience and inner resourcefulness can outlast terror. Her eventual return, changed and reflective, deepens the book's meditation on what the mind can endure when every external comfort is stripped away. ## Relationships ### [Rasselas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/characters/rasselas) _social_ Pekuah is a servant to Nekayah and interacts with Rasselas primarily through her connection to the princess. ### [Imlac](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/characters/imlac) _social_ Imlac treats Pekuah with courtesy as part of the prince's retinue. ### [The Old Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/characters/the_old_man) _social_ Pekuah has minimal direct interaction with the Old Man, mostly as a listener. ### [Rasselas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/characters/rasselas) _social_ Pekuah is a servant to Nekayah and interacts with Rasselas primarily through her connection to the princess. ### [Imlac](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/characters/imlac) _social_ Imlac treats Pekuah with courtesy as part of the prince's retinue. ### [The Old Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/characters/the_old_man) _social_ Pekuah has minimal direct interaction with the Old Man, mostly as a listener. ## In the story ### [VI: A Dissertation on the Art of Flying](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/vi-a-dissertation-on-the-art-of-flying) Not present in this chapter. ### [XV: The Prince and Princess Leave the Valley, and See Many Wonders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/xv-the-prince-and-princess-leave-the-valley-and-see-many-wonders) The Princess's favourite maid who follows her unknowingly into the escape. ### [They Enter Cairo, and Find Every Man Happy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/xvi-they-enter-cairo-and-find-every-man-happy) The favourite lady who serves the Princess in her chamber as in the Happy Valley. ### [They Visit the Pyramids](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/xxxi-they-visit-the-pyramids) Expresses terror at the narrow entrance and gloom, fearing unquiet souls, and begs not to enter. ### [XXXII: They Enter the Pyramid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/xxxii-they-enter-the-pyramid) Pekuah descends to the tents and does not enter the Pyramid. ### [The Princess Meets with an Unexpected Misfortune](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-princess-meets-with-an-unexpected-misfortune) Pekuah is seized by the Arabs along with her two maids and carried away during the attack. ### [They Return to Cairo Without Pekuah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/xxxiv-they-return-to-cairo-without-pekuah) Remains missing, kidnapped by Arabs; her absence drives the chapter's events. ### [XXXV: The Princess Languishes for Want of Pekuah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/xxxv-the-princess-languishes-for-want-of-pekuah) Absent; her memory dominates Nekayah's thoughts and actions. ### [XXXVI: Pekuah Is Still Remembered. The Progress of Sorrow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/xxxvi-pekuah-is-still-remembered-the-progress-of-sorrow) Pekuah is remembered and mourned by Nekayah, who fears losing anyone she loves again. ### [The Princess Hears News of Pekuah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/xxxvii-the-princess-hears-news-of-pekuah) Is ransomed and restored to the party; embraces the Princess with transport. ### [The Adventures of the Lady Pekuah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/xxxviii-the-adventures-of-the-lady-pekuah) Narrates her own kidnapping and captivity, describing her emotions and interactions with the Arab chief. ### [The Adventures of Pekuah Continued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/xxxix-the-adventures-of-pekuah-continued) Narrates her continued adventures in captivity, describing her life in the Arab's fortress, her interactions with his women, and her eventual ransom. ### [The Astronomer Leaves Imlac His Directions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/xliii-the-astronomer-leaves-imlac-his-directions) Convulses with laughter at the astronomer's account, then becomes abashed after Imlac's admonishment. ### [XLIV: The Dangerous Prevalence of Imagination](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/xliv-the-dangerous-prevalence-of-imagination) The favorite confesses to imagining herself as the Queen of Abyssinia, regulating the court and building palaces. ### [They Discourse with an Old Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/xlv-they-discourse-with-an-old-man) Conjectures the man is older than he appears or has been unfortunate. ### [The Princess and Pekuah Visit the Astronomer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/xlvi-the-princess-and-pekuah-visit-the-astronomer) Devises a plan to visit the astronomer as a student, tells her story of the pyramid and Arab's island, and becomes a favorite of the astronomer. ### [The Prince Enters, and Brings a New Topic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/xlvii-the-prince-enters-and-brings-a-new-topic) Wishes for a life of pious abstraction and decides to join the descent into the catacombs. ### [The Conclusion, in Which Nothing Is Concluded](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/chapters/xlix-the-conclusion-in-which-nothing-is-concluded) Wishes to fill the Convent of St. Anthony with pious maidens and become its prioress. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/characters/pekuah - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_rasselas_prince_of_abyssinia_se/characters