# Barbara — The Princess and Curdie character guide

> Barbara in The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Barbara Meantime, Little Barbara, little Barbara, XXIX Barbara

**First appearance:** 0014-xv-derba-and-barbara

## Snapshot

A young girl of Gwyntystorm with an uncanny sense of where the old princess has gone, her small kindnesses threading through the city's darkness.

## Who they are

Little Barbara is one of the few people in Gwyntystorm who seems to know, when no one else has a notion, whither the mysterious old princess has vanished — a sign of her quiet attunement to hidden things. She shows kindness to Curdie in a city that has forgotten hospitality, and her loyalty places her among the humble few whose goodness the story quietly rewards. She matters because she represents the remnant of decency in Gwyntystorm, the ordinary souls whose faithfulness makes the city worth saving at all.

## Relationships

### [Curdie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/curdie)

_friendship_

Barbara is a kind and supportive figure who aids Curdie during his time in the city.

### [Curdie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/curdie)

_friendship_

Barbara is a kind and supportive figure who aids Curdie during his time in the city.

## In the story

### [XIV: The Dogs of Gwyntystorm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xiv-the-dogs-of-gwyntystorm)

The brave little girl who approaches Curdie and Lina, leads them to her grandmother's house, and rides on Lina.

### [XV: Derba and Barbara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xv-derba-and-barbara)

Sits on Curdie's knee, listens to his stories, and is protected by her grandmother.

### [Barbara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxix-barbara)

Her presence calms the king's nightmares and she becomes his playmate.

### [Judgment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxxiv-judgment)

Sits on the king's left hand at supper.

### [The End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxxv-the-end)

Knows when the queen is with the Uglies in the wood.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/barbara
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters