# The Doctor — The Princess and Curdie character guide

> The Doctor in The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the doctor

**First appearance:** 0017-xviii-the-king-s-kitchen

## Snapshot

A round, puffing court physician whose hand feels like the belly of a creeping thing when Curdie pulls him off the floor.

## Who they are

Dr. Kelman arrives tumbling through the king's door, all apology and soft palms, and the princess cannot believe ill of him. But Curdie, whose gift tests hands, finds no foot in his grasp, only the body of a serpent coiled inside a man's shape. He is the smiling face of the corruption Curdie has come to uproot, and the reason the king's wine must never again pass through any hand but Irene's.

## Relationships

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

_professional_

Curdie works with the Doctor in the royal household, but the Doctor is part of the corrupt court.

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

_professional_

Princess Irene interacts with the Doctor as part of the court, but she distrusts his motives.

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

_professional_

Curdie works with the Doctor in the royal household, but the Doctor is part of the corrupt court.

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

_professional_

Curdie works with the Doctor in the royal household, but the Doctor is part of the corrupt court.

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

_professional_

Princess Irene interacts with the Doctor as part of the court, but she distrusts his motives.

## In the story

### [XIX: The King’s Chamber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xix-the-king-s-chamber)

Arrives to give the king his 'medicine' (wine), but Curdie suspects him of poisoning.

### [XX: Counterplotting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xx-counterplotting)

Revealed as a serpent-like traitor, poisoning the king's wine and forbidding bread.

### [XXII: The Lord Chamberlain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxii-the-lord-chamberlain)

Pledged to weaken the king's brain, but his fidelity is doubted by the lord chamberlain.

### [XXIII: Dr. Kelman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxiii-dr-kelman)

Revealed as the poisoner, caught in the act and injured by Lina.

### [The Prophecy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxiv-the-prophecy)

Mentioned as having been expelled from the king's chamber.

### [XXVII: More Vengeance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_curdie_se/chapters/xxvii-more-vengeance)

Mentioned as having a crushed leg, needing no guard.

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

His wicked medicines are the lingering cause of the king's nightmares.

## Links

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