# Goorelka of Oolb — The Shaving of Shagpat character guide

> Goorelka of Oolb in The Shaving of Shagpat by George Meredith.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Goorelka, Oolb

**First appearance:** 0008-goorelka-of-oolb

## Snapshot

A princess of Oolb whose enchantments and designs entangle the fate of Noorna bin Noorka and shadow the heroes' path.

## Who they are

Goorelka of Oolb moves in the world of princesses and sorceries that border the central quest, her name bound up with Noorna's history and the trials that surround her. The tension she carries is one of hidden purpose — a royal figure whose magic and motives are not what they seem, and whose influence reaches into the lives of the protagonists before they fully understand it. She matters to the early–middle arc because the threads she pulls help explain the enchantments and dangers that surround Noorna, deepening the world beyond Shiraz and Shagpat's city.

## In the story

### [The Talking Hawk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-talking-hawk)

Referenced as part of Noorna's story, though not directly present in this chapter.

### [Goorelka of Oolb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/goorelka-of-oolb)

The Princess of Oolb, guardian of the Lily of the Enchanted Sea, awakens to find her cockleshell disturbed and pursues Shibli across the sea.

### [The Lily of the Enchanted Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-lily-of-the-enchanted-sea)

Goorelka leads Shibli to the Enchanted Lily, tests his fidelity, and offers him poisoned dew. Her beauty fades into ugliness when the hawk reveals her true nature, and she is carried off by Karaz.

### [And This Is the Story of Noorna Bin Noorka, the Genie Karaz, and the Princess of Oolb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/and-this-is-the-story-of-noorna-bin-noorka-the-genie-karaz-and-the-princess-of-oolb)

Princess of Oolb who taunts Noorna as a child and later steals her beauty by blighting the Lily.

### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/conclusion)

Tended Noorna in Aklis and brought her back to Shibli.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/characters/goorelka_of_oolb
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/characters