Tammy’s Reviews > The Princess and the Goblin > Status Update

Irene worries about Curdie making it out safely and her grandmother protects him from prying eyes. She worries about Lootie missing her and granmother says it will be fine, Irene falls asleep. Is he Curdie for curds because he comes from a low status?

While she is immersed she is in this blue lovely place and she hears her grandmother sing a beautiful swong. She could never really remember it but it makes her so happy just to think about it. After her grandomther pulls her out, she dresses Irene in her white nightgown that is now spotless. Her grandmother heals her nine bruises and she falls asleep in her grandmother’s bed.

She put her hand into the fire and pulls out Irene’s balls. Her grandmother puts her ball and ring into a drawer in case she ever needs it again. Because she is filthy from the mines, her grandmother takes to the bath and it looks like it has no bottom because it’s a refletion of the stars from far away. Her grandmother tells her to not be afraid. Okay so all of this is definitely the white stage.

He’s thankful but not that thankful. After he leaves, her grandmother explains that he is closer to believing than Lootie is. He is not ready to believe and grandmother cannot reveal herself until he is. He’s not ready because he does not understand other people. Irene promies to be patient. Irene’s grandmother is not spinning because she doesn’t have anyone who needs a ball. Irene asks how she will get hers back.

Irene is heartbroken. He does not even heard her grandmother, only a bunch of pigeons. Curdie tells her he is going because nobody will believe their story except for his parents. They know he is honest. He leaves and Grandmother tells her to give him time. Irene tells him how to get out of the house. He says that he won’t need any thread or grandmothers for this. He is angry that she played him for a fool.

Her grandmother is wearing a white dress and Irene sits on her lap as they talk. The girl assumes Curdie will now believe but her grandmother is doubtful. Irene asks him to bow to her grandmother. He is sullen. He doesn’t see her grandmother nor any of the beautiful things in the room that she sees. He sees an bare attic room. He sees straw, an apple, and a tub. There’s light shining through a hole in the roof.

Ch. 22 Irene is in bliss as they climb the stairs. Her grandmother is not spinning. Irene knocks on the door of the workroom and her grandmother calls her in. She is glad Irene succeeded and she tells her that Curdie is a good boy. Irene is frustrated because Curdie does not believe and he thinks she is lying. Grandmother encourages her to show some grace because people have different levels of belief.

He still can’t seee the thr4ead but he admists that she led them out. He needs to get home so they go through the house and meet nobody. She changes his mind when she invites him to meet her grandmother.

The thread takes them to a hole where they hear two things: running water and goblins at work. She drops into the hole because the thread takes her there. She lands in the water. Curdie has to make the hole bigger for himself. They follow the stream and he has to pick at stone here and there. They see light and come out of the mountain. They are shocked to find themselves in Irene’s backyard.

When Irene tells her story, he does not believe it. In fact, he is the belly because he cannot accept what he cannot experience with his five senses. Wait! If she is wearing her grandmother’s cloak, that is a change of identity and she is the source of wisdom and insight. She is in the vertical plane, leading Curdie out. She has already told him *ten* times about the thread! When he tries, he cannot feel the thread.