# Why the Princess Has a Story About Her explained — The Princess and the Goblin

> Chapter companion for The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald.

## What happens

The chapter introduces Princess Irene, an eight-year-old princess living in a mountain palace. It explains the history of goblins who once lived above ground but were driven underground by the king's harsh taxes and laws. Over generations, they became grotesque and cunning, living in subterranean caverns and harboring a grudge against the king's descendants. The goblins now have their own king and government, and their chief aim is to torment the surface-dwellers. This is why Irene is never allowed outside at night, for fear of goblin attacks.

## Themes in this chapter

### Good vs. Evil

The goblins are portrayed as malicious beings who delight in tormenting the surface-dwellers, setting up a clear conflict between the innocent princess and the subterranean threats.

### Social Class and Prejudice

The goblins' ancestral grudge stems from perceived oppression by the king's taxes and laws, highlighting tensions between ruling classes and those they govern.

## Character check-ins

### Princess Irene

The little princess, about eight years old, with fair face and starry eyes, sent to be raised in a country house for safety.

### The King

Irene's father, the king of a great country, whose ancestors caused the goblins' expulsion underground.

## Key lines

> There was once a little princess whose father was king over a great country full of mountains and valleys.

A little princess lived in a mountainous kingdom ruled by her father.

_Introduces the setting and the princess's royal lineage._

> These mountains were full of hollow places underneath; huge caverns, and winding ways, some with water running through them, and some shining with all colours of the rainbow when a light was taken in.

The mountains contained vast underground caverns and tunnels, some with water and others that sparkled with color when lit.

_Describes the subterranean world where the goblins dwell._

> Now in these subterranean caverns lived a strange race of beings, called by some gnomes, by some kobolds, by some goblins.

A peculiar race of creatures, known as gnomes, kobolds, or goblins, inhabited these underground caves.

_Introduces the goblins as the primary antagonists._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters/i-why-the-princess-has-a-story-about-her
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_princess_and_the_goblin_se/chapters