# Dr. Kelman — The Princess and Curdie character guide

> Dr. Kelman in The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** XXIII Dr. Kelman, Kelman

**First appearance:** 0022-xxiii-dr-kelman

## Snapshot

The court physician whose round, smiling body hides a serpent's nature — a false-faced schemer poisoning the king he pretends to heal.

## Who they are

Dr. Kelman moves through the palace as the trusted doctor attending the ailing king, his face and tongue both false according to Curdie's testing hands, which feel not a foot but the belly of a creeping thing. He embodies the court's corruption, dispensing wine that makes the king worse while wearing the mask of solicitude. His presence forces Curdie and Irene into secret vigilance over the king's food and drink, turning the sickroom into a quiet battlefield where trust itself is the first casualty.

## Relationships

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

_rivalry_

Dr. Kelman is a corrupt court physician who opposes Curdie's mission to expose the court's evil.

### [Princess Irene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/princess_irene)

_rivalry_

Dr. Kelman is part of the corrupt faction that seeks to control or harm Princess Irene.

### [Princess Irene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/characters/princess_irene)

_rivalry_

Dr. Kelman is part of the corrupt faction that seeks to control or harm Princess Irene.

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

_rivalry_

Dr. Kelman is a corrupt court physician who opposes Curdie's mission to expose the court's evil.

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

_rivalry_

Dr. Kelman is a corrupt court physician who opposes Curdie's mission to expose the court's evil.

## In the story

### [XXI: The Loaf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxi-the-loaf)

Visits the king and is annoyed and puzzled by his improvement.

## Links

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