SOURCE: The Princess and Curdie (1882) by George MacDonald

DESCRIPTION: "As for the attorney-general, Curdie led to his door a huge spider, about two feet long in the body, which, having made an excellent supper, was full of webbing.  The attorney-general had not gone to bed, but sat in a chair asleep before a great mirror.  He had been trying the effect of a diamond star which he had that morning taken from the jewel room.  When he woke he fancied himself paralysed; every limb, every finger even, was motionless: coils and coils of broad spider ribbon bandaged his members to his body, and all to the chair.  In the glass he saw himself wound about with slavery infinite.  On a footstool a yard off sat the spider glaring at him." (The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald)

NOTES: The giant spider is one of the 49 Uglies found living in the dark forest on the way to the king's castle. He helps Curdie to secure the conspirators by tying up the attorney-general.

HISTORY: Macdonald's giant spider is one of the good guys, an unusual role. Think howin the 20th Century,  H. G. Wells (1903), Lord Dunsany (1908), Robert E. Howard (1933) and J. R. R. Tolkien (1937) would use similar bad creatures in years later. The 19th century seems to be a spider-friendlier era.