# Peter Peterson — The Princess and the Goblin character guide

> Peter Peterson in The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Peter

**First appearance:** 0005-vi-the-little-miner

## Snapshot

Curdie's father, a miner whose foresight stacks stone and cement against the goblins' tunnels before anyone else sees the danger.

## Who they are

Peter works the mine alongside his son and, when Curdie bursts in with news of the goblins' second plan, he is already at the gang with blocks and cement ready. He is steady where Curdie is daring, and his quiet preparations are what keep the mine from being flooded and the miners from drowning. His cottage, braced against a great rock, becomes a refuge in the storm, and his competence grounds the story's underground struggle in ordinary labor.

## In the story

### [The Mines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/vii-the-mines)

Peter works with Curdie in the mine, is one of the courageous miners who stays overnight, and gives Curdie permission to stay alone despite having a headache.

### [The Hall of the Goblin Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/ix-the-hall-of-the-goblin-palace)

Curdie's father, who listens to Curdie's story and agrees to stop working the lode while pretending to continue.

### [A Short Chapter About Curdie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xii-a-short-chapter-about-curdie)

Curdie's father, who is in on the secret of Curdie's nightly activities.

### [XXIII: Curdie and His Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xxiii-curdie-and-his-mother)

Curdie's father, listens to the tale and supports his son's investigative plans.

### [XXVIII: Curdie’s Guide](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xxviii-curdie-s-guide)

Curdie's father, whom Curdie rushes to wake at the end of the chapter.

### [Masonwork](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xxix-masonwork)

Helps build the buttress and returns to the cottage after the storm.

### [The Subterranean Waters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xxxi-the-subterranean-waters)

Helps carry his wife to safety when the flood overtakes them.

### [The Last Chapter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xxxii-the-last-chapter)

Accompanies Curdie and helps with the work of draining and securing the house.

## Links

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