The Princess and the Goblin · Chapter
Curdie Comes to Grief explained
Curdie, while secretly watching the king's house and garden for signs of goblin activity, is mistaken for a goblin creature by the men-at-arms and shot with a crossbow.
What happens
Curdie, while secretly watching the king's house and garden for signs of goblin activity, is mistaken for a goblin creature by the men-at-arms and shot with a crossbow. He is captured, and despite his attempts to explain his mission and warn of the goblin threat, he is disbelieved—especially after the nurse falsely accuses him of having been rude to the princess. Wounded and feverish, he is locked in a disused room, where his warnings are dismissed as raving.
Themes in this chapter
Trust and Belief
Curdie's truthful warnings about the goblins are dismissed as raving, highlighting the theme of disbelief and its consequences.
Deception and Appearance
The nurse's false accusations and the men-at-arms mistaking Curdie for a goblin creature show how appearances can deceive.
Perseverance and Hard Work
Curdie's diligent watching and his continued efforts to warn others despite injury and disbelief exemplify perseverance.
Characters to notice
- Curdie
Wounded by a crossbow bolt while watching the king's garden; captured and imprisoned; his warnings about the goblins are disbelieved.
- Princess Irene
Mentioned as being asleep during the events; the nurse misrepresents Curdie's earlier encounter with her.
- Lootie
The nurse who falsely accuses Curdie of rudeness and of trying to kiss the princess, influencing the captain against him.
- The Captain
Leader of the men-at-arms; initially courteous to Curdie but later imprisons him after hearing the nurse's accusation.
- The King
Mentioned as being away in a distant part of his dominions during these events.
Key passages
“He was creeping from behind the rock where the stream ran out, for he had been listening all round it in the hope it might convey to his ear some indication of the whereabouts of the goblin miners, when just as he came into the moonlight on the lawn, a whizz in his ear and a blow upon his leg startled him.”
Curdie was sneaking around the rock near the stream, listening for any sign of the goblins, when a crossbow bolt whizzed past and struck his leg.
Describes the moment Curdie is wounded and captured.
“When he heard this, the captain, although he had considerable doubt of its truth, resolved to keep Curdie a prisoner until they could search into the affair.”
The captain doubted the nurse's story but decided to hold Curdie captive pending an investigation.
Shows the captain's cautious but unjust decision influenced by the nurse's accusation.
“He told the soldier all he knew about the goblins, and begged him to tell his companions, and stir them up to watch with tenfold vigilance; but whether it was that he did not talk quite coherently, or that the whole thing appeared incredible, certainly the man concluded that Curdie was only raving still, and tried to coax him into holding his tongue.”
Curdie tried to warn the soldier about the goblins, but the soldier thought he was delirious and told him to be quiet.
Illustrates the theme of disbelief and Curdie's frustration.