# Peter — The Princess and Curdie character guide

> Peter in The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Peter the miner

**First appearance:** 0003-iv-curdie-s-father-and-mother

## Snapshot

Curdie's father, a hard-handed miner who gives his son up to a strange lady's errand with tears in his eyes and no complaint.

## Who they are

Peter is a working man whose honesty is so plain that a princess takes his horny hand and calls him friend. When she asks him to give up Curdie for a while, he answers only that it will not matter much so long as the boy still loves them. His quiet faith in his son, and his willingness to be separated from him, is the moral bedrock Curdie carries into the corrupt city.

## Relationships

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

_family_

Peter is Curdie's father, and they share a loving, supportive father-son relationship.

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

_family_

Peter is Curdie's father, and they share a loving, supportive father-son relationship.

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

_family_

Peter is Curdie's father, and they share a loving, supportive father-son relationship.

## In the story

### [The Mountain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/i-the-mountain)

Curdie's father, a miner who works with his son in the mountain.

### [II: The White Pigeon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/ii-the-white-pigeon)

Curdie's father, mentioned as a man who would rather doubt his own eyes than his wife's testimony, but not directly present in this chapter.

### [IV: Curdie’s Father and Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/iv-curdie-s-father-and-mother)

Curdie's father, who listens and supports his wife's counsel, affirming that Curdie must keep his promise.

### [V: The Miners](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/v-the-miners)

Questions the miners' assumptions about Old Mother Wotherwop, suggesting she might be an angel, and supports Curdie by walking home with him.

### [VI: The Emerald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/vi-the-emerald)

Accompanies Curdie in following the mysterious light.

### [VII: What Is in a Name?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/vii-what-is-in-a-name)

Learns that he and his wife have royal blood and that his poverty has been a privilege arranged by the Lady.

### [VIII: Curdie's Mission](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/viii-curdie-s-mission)

Meets Curdie on the path, discusses aging and dignity, and is later entrusted with the magical emerald.

### [IX: Hands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/ix-hands)

Listens to Curdie's account, expresses skepticism but supports his wife's inner nobility, and gives Curdie a stick for his journey.

### [XVIII: The King’s Kitchen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xviii-the-king-s-kitchen)

Referenced in Curdie's memory for his advice about wanting to do right.

### [XXX: Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxx-peter)

Peter notices the emerald's color fading and rushes to the king's house, only to find it deserted. He then heads to Gwyntystorm to find Curdie.

### [The Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-battle)

Appears as a miner and defends the maid, striking down the general's horse.

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

Tells his tale to Curdie, is appointed general of all the king's mines.

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

Brings miners to Gwyntystorm, discovers a gem cavern, and builds a home above the city.

## Links

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