# Curdie — The Princess and Curdie character guide > Curdie in The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald. **Role:** major **Also known as:** The Mountain Curdie, IV Curdie, young Curdie, Master Curdie, VIII Curdie, IX Hands Curdie, XX Counterplotting Curdie **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-mountain ## Snapshot A young miner whose hands can test a man's true nature, sent by a mysterious grandmother to save a sleeping king from a court of serpents. ## Who they are Curdie arrives in Gwyntystorm with no instructions beyond the gift of reading hands, and finds a palace where servants steal, a doctor's flesh feels like a creeping thing, and the king lies poisoned by his own wine. His blunt honesty and miner's stubbornness set him against a household that smiles while it rots. What he must learn is patience: to trust the princess, to wait for the grandmother's plan to unfold, and to act without knowing the shape of the danger he is in. ## Relationships ### [Lina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/lina) _friendship_ Curdie and Lina share a deep, loyal bond, with Lina as his fierce and protective companion. ### [Princess Irene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/princess_irene) _friendship_ Curdie and Princess Irene are close allies, with Irene guiding and trusting Curdie on his quest. ### [Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/peter) _family_ Peter is Curdie's father, and they share a loving, supportive father-son relationship. ### [The Doctor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/the_doctor) _professional_ Curdie works with the Doctor in the royal household, but the Doctor is part of the corrupt court. ### [The Servants](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/the_servants) _professional_ Curdie interacts with the servants as a fellow worker in the castle, but they are often complicit in corruption. ### [Derba](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/derba) _friendship_ Derba is a loyal and kind servant who befriends Curdie and helps him in the castle. ### [Dr. Kelman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/dr_kelman) _rivalry_ Dr. Kelman is a corrupt court physician who opposes Curdie's mission to expose the court's evil. ### [The Colonel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/the_colonel) _professional_ Curdie works with the Colonel as part of the royal guard, but the Colonel is loyal to the corrupt court. ### [Barbara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/barbara) _friendship_ Barbara is a kind and supportive figure who aids Curdie during his time in the city. ### [Her Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/her_master) _professional_ Curdie serves Her Master (the princess's great-great-grandmother) on a divine mission, following her guidance. ### [A Stranger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/a_stranger) _rivalry_ A Stranger appears as a mysterious antagonist who challenges Curdie's path and tests his resolve. ### [Princess Irene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/princess_irene) _friendship_ Curdie and Princess Irene are close allies, with Irene guiding and trusting Curdie on his quest. ## In the story ### [The Mountain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/i-the-mountain) The protagonist, a miner's son who chose to stay with his parents rather than join the king's train. ### [II: The White Pigeon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/ii-the-white-pigeon) Growing more skeptical and less attentive to the wonders of the world; his act of shooting the pigeon triggers a deep remorse and a turning point in his character. ### [III: The Mistress of the Silver Moon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/iii-the-mistress-of-the-silver-moon) Enters the castle, climbs to the tower, confesses to shooting the pigeon, and learns a moral lesson. ### [IV: Curdie’s Father and Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/iv-curdie-s-father-and-mother) Returns home changed, shares his tale with his parents, and resolves to follow the old lady's instructions. ### [V: The Miners](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/v-the-miners) Listens silently to the miners' tales, defends the possibility of good in Old Mother Wotherwop, and endures their mockery with patience. ### [VI: The Emerald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/vi-the-emerald) Recognizes the ancient princess and is awed by her presence. ### [VII: What Is in a Name?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/vii-what-is-in-a-name) Asks the Lady of Light about her many names and forms, showing his growing understanding of her true nature. ### [VIII: Curdie's Mission](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/viii-curdie-s-mission) Receives his mission from the princess, is given Lina as a companion, and learns to perceive hidden good. ### [IX: Hands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/ix-hands) Returns home, shares his story, demonstrates his new gift by feeling his mother's hand, and prepares to leave for Gwyntystorm. ### [X: The Heath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/x-the-heath) Travels through the heath, enduring mockery and facing a strange creature. ### [XI: Lina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xi-lina) Recognizes Lina and accepts her as a companion, showing trust and care. ### [XII: More Creatures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xii-more-creatures) Observes the strange creatures and Lina's interactions with them, feeling amused rather than threatened. ### [XIII: The Baker's Wife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xiii-the-baker-s-wife) Arrives at Gwyntystorm, observes the city's decay and self-centeredness, and interacts with the baker and barber, showing his practical wisdom and honesty. ### [XIV: The Dogs of Gwyntystorm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xiv-the-dogs-of-gwyntystorm) Defends himself and Lina against the dogs, shows restraint and kindness, and accepts the old woman's hospitality. ### [XV: Derba and Barbara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xv-derba-and-barbara) Stays with Derba and Barbara, tells stories, surrenders to the authorities, and later frees himself. ### [The Mattock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xvi-the-mattock) Imprisoned and awaiting trial, he uses his mattock to dig an escape route through the dungeon floor. ### [XVII: The Wine-Cellar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xvii-the-wine-cellar) Observes the butler's suspicious actions in the wine cellar, takes the key, and later steals a pie from the palace hall. ### [XVIII: The King’s Kitchen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xviii-the-king-s-kitchen) Explores the palace, disgusted by the filth and drunkenness, and seeks the king's chamber. ### [XIX: The King’s Chamber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xix-the-king-s-chamber) Enters the king's chamber, meets Princess Irene, and begins to suspect the doctor's intentions. ### [XX: Counterplotting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xx-counterplotting) Devises a counterplot to protect the king, using his gift to detect treachery and planning to procure safe food. ### [XXI: The Loaf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxi-the-loaf) Escapes the dungeon, retrieves the loaf, and sends it to Irene via Lina. ### [XXII: The Lord Chamberlain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxii-the-lord-chamberlain) Continues his secret mission, securing food and planning to purge the palace. Discovers gold in the rock. ### [XXIII: Dr. Kelman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxiii-dr-kelman) Takes charge of the king's safety, discovers the doctor's treachery, and uses Lina to subdue him. ### [The Prophecy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxiv-the-prophecy) Watches over the king, tells his story, and helps the princess. ### [The Avengers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxv-the-avengers) Anxious about the king's safety, he orchestrates the movement of the creatures into the cellar and finds a new route to the king's chamber. ### [The Vengeance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxvi-the-vengeance) Confronts the servants, proclaims the butler a villain, and orchestrates the expulsion of the corrupt household. ### [XXVII: More Vengeance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxvii-more-vengeance) Directs the avenging creatures and purges the palace of traitors. ### [Barbara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxix-barbara) Continues to protect the king, brings Barbara to him, and attempts to deliver the colonel's message. ### [XXX: Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxx-peter) Though not present, Curdie is the cause of Peter's urgency, as the fading emerald suggests he is in danger. ### [The Sacrifice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxxi-the-sacrifice) Stands guard over the king, plans to march against the enemy, and witnesses the princess's healing sacrifice. ### [The King's Army](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxxii-the-king-s-army) Awakens refreshed, polishes his mattock, and prepares to lead the beasts into battle. ### [The Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-battle) Fights with his mattock, commands the beasts, and pursues the enemy. ### [Judgment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxxiv-judgment) Helps capture the lord chancellor, assists in the judgment, and is promised Irene's hand in marriage. ### [The End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxxv-the-end) Searches for honest people, reveals the gold under the city, marries Irene, and becomes a good king. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/curdie - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters