# Goodman — The Sundering Flood character guide > Goodman in The Sundering Flood by William Morris. **Role:** minor **Also known as:** The Goodman **First appearance:** 0002-ii-of-wethermel-and-the-child-osberne ## Who they are The head of the household at Wethermel. ## Relationships ### [Osberne Wulfgrimsson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters/osberne_wulfgrimsson) _family_ Goodman is Osberne's grandfather and guardian, raising him with care and authority in their village home. ### [Stephen the Eater](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters/stephen_the_eater) _social_ Goodman and Stephen the Eater know each other as fellow villagers and occasional companions in Osberne's circle. ### [Surly John](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters/surly_john) _social_ Goodman and Surly John are fellow villagers with a casual, somewhat grumpy acquaintance. ### [Hardcastle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters/hardcastle) _rivalry_ Goodman and Hardcastle are adversaries, with Hardcastle representing a threat to Goodman's family and home. ### [Osberne Wulfgrimsson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters/osberne_wulfgrimsson) _family_ Goodman is Osberne's grandfather and guardian, raising him with care and authority in their village home. ### [Osberne Wulfgrimsson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters/osberne_wulfgrimsson) _family_ Goodman is Osberne's grandfather and guardian, raising him with care and authority in their village home. ### [Stephen the Eater](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters/stephen_the_eater) _social_ Goodman and Stephen the Eater know each other as fellow villagers and occasional companions in Osberne's circle. ### [Hardcastle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters/hardcastle) _rivalry_ Goodman and Hardcastle are adversaries, with Hardcastle representing a threat to Goodman's family and home. ### [Surly John](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters/surly_john) _social_ Goodman and Surly John are fellow villagers with a casual, somewhat grumpy acquaintance. ### [Hardcastle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters/hardcastle) _rivalry_ Goodman and Hardcastle are adversaries, with Hardcastle representing a threat to Goodman's family and home. ### [Stephen the Eater](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters/stephen_the_eater) _social_ Goodman and Stephen the Eater know each other as fellow villagers and occasional companions in Osberne's circle. ## In the story ### [Of Wethermel and the Child Osberne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/ii-of-wethermel-and-the-child-osberne) Osberne's grandfather, a hale man of fifty winters, who scolds and threatens to beat Osberne for his dangerous wanderings. ### [Wolves Harry the Flock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/iii-wolves-harry-the-flock) Osberne's grandfather, who berates John for cowardice but also flees from the wolves, then strikes John in anger. ### [Surly John Falls Out with the Goodman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/iv-surly-john-falls-out-with-the-goodman) Pays Surly John, is attacked but defended by Osberne, then deliberately absents himself to let Osberne prove himself. ### [Osberne Slays the Wolves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/v-osberne-slays-the-wolves) Osberne's grandfather, who initially threatens punishment but praises him after seeing the wolves' heads. ### [VI: They Fare to the Cloven Mote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/vi-they-fare-to-the-cloven-mote) Osberne's grandsire; accompanies him to the Mote, lies about the route to avoid a perilous place, and explains about Hartshaw Knolls. ### [VIII: The Goodman Gets a New Hired Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/viii-the-goodman-gets-a-new-hired-man) Hires Stephen the Eater, eyes Osberne's bow with suspicion but is pleased with the game Osberne brings home. ### [IX: The Bight of the Cloven Knoll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/ix-the-bight-of-the-cloven-knoll) Osberne's grandfather, who is away on a trip to Bullmeads and Eastcheaping. ### [XII: Of a Guest Called Waywearer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/xii-of-a-guest-called-waywearer) Initially hostile to the stranger but is overruled by Osberne's authority; later softens when Waywearer eats moderately. ### [XIII: Steelhead Gives Osberne the Sword Boardcleaver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/xiii-steelhead-gives-osberne-the-sword-boardcleaver) The carle-master who ruefully agrees to the gift of a horse to Steelhead. ### [XIV: The Gifts of Steelhead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/xiv-the-gifts-of-steelhead) Returns home to learn of the horse's return and is glad, declaring luck has come to Wethermel. ### [XV: Surly John Brings a Guest to Wethermel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/xv-surly-john-brings-a-guest-to-wethermel) Trembles before Hardcastle but tries to appear at ease; later sleeps poorly, troubled by dreams of violence. ### [XVI: Hardcastle Would Seize Wethermel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/xvi-hardcastle-would-seize-wethermel) Kneels before Hardcastle, pleads for mercy, and weeps. ### [XVII: The Slaying of Hardcastle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/xvii-the-slaying-of-hardcastle) Receives back his house and lands from Osberne after Hardcastle's death. ### [XIX: The Winter Passes and Elfhild Tells of the Death of Her Kinswoman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/xix-the-winter-passes-and-elfhild-tells-of-the-death-of-her-kinswoman) Heeds Osberne and Stephen's advice, improves household management, hires six folk, and rides down the Dale to acquire them. ### [Strangers Come to Wethermel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/chapters/liii-strangers-come-to-wethermel) Present at Wethermel, described as more chieftain-like than before. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters/goodman - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sundering_flood_se/characters