# Peter the Great — The Social Contract character guide

> Peter the Great in The Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Peter

**First appearance:** 0021-vii-the-legislator

## Who they are

Russian tsar cited as example of a legislator reforming a nation.

## In the story

### [The People](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_social_contract_se/chapters/viii-the-people)

Criticized for attempting to civilize Russia prematurely, lacking creative genius and making his people what they are not.

## Links

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