The most admirable person in the book is a woman—Matilda. She is smarter and more knowledgeable than either Angus or Donald, and she is responsible for improving the castle. She is also wiser, guiding Angus to a more peaceful way of life. One puzzling aspect of Matilda's character is her reaction to Angus's plan to kill the dragon. She is more upset by his failure to pay the dragonslayer than for ordering the deed itself.

No one in the story expresses much concern for the poor children who are always hungry and cold. Even when the dragon is being fed to keep him from eating any bullocks, the children go hungry. Matilda does help some, but, like everyone else in the story, she seems resigned to the fact that poverty will be their lot in life—probably a realistic attitude for that historical...