# The Old Lady — The Princess and the Goblin character guide > The Old Lady in The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald. **Role:** major **Also known as:** The Old Lady, the old lady **First appearance:** 0010-xi-the-old-lady-s-bedroom ## Snapshot Irene's great-great-grandmother, who sits spinning in a tower room no one else can find and gives the princess a thread to follow in the dark. ## Who they are She appears only to Irene, in a high chamber reached by stairs the household has forgotten, and she spins and weaves with a patience that unnerves as much as it comforts. Her gifts, a ring that glows and a thread that leads, demand trust rather than explanation, and the princess must believe her even when the evidence of her own eyes says otherwise. She is the story's quiet center of gravity, the one who knows what the goblins are doing long before the miners do. ## Relationships ### [Princess Irene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/princess_irene) _family_ The Old Lady is Irene's mysterious great-great-grandmother, who guides and protects her from her hidden tower room. ### [Curdie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/curdie) _friendship_ The Old Lady guides and tests Curdie, helping him grow in courage and wisdom to better serve Irene. ### [Lootie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/lootie) _psychological_ Lootie is frightened and skeptical of the Old Lady, unable to see her and dismissing her as a fantasy. ### [Nursie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/nursie) _social_ Nursie is aware of the Old Lady's existence and treats her with reverent, quiet respect. ### [Princess Irene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/princess_irene) _family_ The Old Lady is Irene's mysterious great-great-grandmother, who guides and protects her from her hidden tower room. ### [Princess Irene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/princess_irene) _family_ The Old Lady is Irene's mysterious great-great-grandmother, who guides and protects her from her hidden tower room. ### [Nursie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/nursie) _social_ Nursie is aware of the Old Lady's existence and treats her with reverent, quiet respect. ### [Lootie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/lootie) _psychological_ Lootie is frightened and skeptical of the Old Lady, unable to see her and dismissing her as a fantasy. ### [Curdie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/curdie) _friendship_ The Old Lady guides and tests Curdie, helping him grow in courage and wisdom to better serve Irene. ## In the story ### [III: The Princess and—We Shall See Who](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/iii-the-princess-and-we-shall-see-who) Reveals herself as Irene's great-great-grandmother, spins thread, keeps pigeons, and cares for Irene. ### [The Princess Lets Well Alone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/v-the-princess-lets-well-alone) Not physically present; Irene thinks about her and wonders if she dreamed of her, but resolves not to bring the nurse without permission. ### [XI: The Old Lady’s Bedroom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xi-the-old-lady-s-bedroom) Spinning spider-silk thread by moonlight in her tower room; she explains why Irene couldn't find her sooner and sets a trial for Irene to return in a week. ### [XIV: That Night Week](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xiv-that-night-week) The old lady is the object of Irene's promise; her lamp is seen as a guiding light that helps Irene find her way home. ### [XV: Woven and Then Spun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xv-woven-and-then-spun) Appears as a beautiful young woman, spins the invisible thread, gives Irene the ring, and explains the magic of the lamp. ### [XX: Irene’s Clue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xx-irene-s-clue) Referenced as Irene's grandmother; her advice and thread guide Irene, though she is not physically present. ### [The Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xxi-the-escape) Referenced as Irene's grandmother; her thread guides them; Irene wants Curdie to meet her. ### [The Old Lady and Curdie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xxii-the-old-lady-and-curdie) Appears in a beautiful room with a fire of roses; explains that Curdie cannot see her yet; bathes Irene in a magical bath. ### [XXIII: Curdie and His Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xxiii-curdie-and-his-mother) Referenced as Irene's grandmother; Curdie dismisses her existence based on the empty garret he saw. ### [The Goblins in the King’s House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xxvii-the-goblins-in-the-king-s-house) Appears in Curdie's dream, tending his wound with a silver box and rose-scented ointment. ### [XXVIII: Curdie’s Guide](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xxviii-curdie-s-guide) Referenced as the grandmother who healed Curdie's leg and sent the thread; not physically present but central to the events. ### [Masonwork](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/xxix-masonwork) Referenced indirectly through the princess's mention of her grandmother and the lamp. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/characters/the_old_lady - 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