The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

Welcome to Week 3!

How do you think the landscape contributes to the story?

Why does Gosta visit the young countess?

What do you think of the young countess, her husband, and her mother-in-law?

Why do you think the story of Mamselle Marie was told here?

What is the significance of Ebba Dohna’s story?

Lori wrote: "Why does Gosta visit the young countess?
What do you think of the young countess, her husband, and her mother-in-law?..."

My first comment is a confession that I was a bit confused between the young countess, the countesses and her daughter and felt like Lou Costello in the Abbott & Costello "Who's on First" routine. I checked with outside sources to straighten out the characters:

- Countess Marta - mother of Henrik, step-mother of Ebba, rich and haughty
- Count Henrik Dohna - Elizabeth's husband, known for being 'stupid'
- Ebba Dohna - Marta's step-daughter, very pious
- Countess Elizabeth (Karlsdotter) - from Italy, married to Count Henrik Dohna

I have it straight now but it's been sometimes difficult for me to attribute who is saying what to whom in scenes with other characters too. I don't fret it and just try to figure it out in context the best I can.
I think I have to pay more attention while I'm reading than what my brain keeps thinking this folktale-like story needs.

Yeah, I got a lot of the characters mixed up too. Thanks for the list!

Thanks for the information, Brian. It's very helpful, although I agree that it's still confusing. The way the tales are interwoven doesn't give me a clear idea of the timeline, and I tend to get lost in the beautiful descriptions of the landscape. There were some interesting moments in this section. The chapter with the marriage woes of Sintram and Ulrika was frightening. Sintram keeps showing up in the tales as a agent of the devil. Is he really that, or is it just the rampant superstition of the people? If people really believe he is evil, why do they tolerate him at their gatherings? The Story of Ebba Dohna is very sad, not only because of her death but also because of the cruel inability of people to forgive Gosta Berling's saga even when he does good. Finally, I felt pity for Mamsell Marie who was so cruelly deceived and mocked by the old Countess. As I've said before, the writing is beautiful and the individual tales are interesting, but the book is confusing over all.

Thank you, Brian. I referred to this tonight after the story of the dam at Ekeby.
I'm really enjoying this book, the more I read. So dream-like, but descriptive and beautifully detailed.

The Sintram issue confused me initially, and I ended up having to go back to the beginning where he was described. Maybe he is invited places because he has money and can make things difficult for people who snub him?

I am also a little confused due to the way the novel goes back and forth in time and characters. Thanks, Brian, for the different character definitions. I read part of the countess/Mamsell Marie story on the train from Gothenburg to Stockholm, but I had a bit of a hard time following everything.
In general, I see a pattern of unfortunate women in their relationships with men.
The story of the young countess was very sad. I still have a problem to judge Gösta Berling as a person. Sometimes he seems sympathetic to me and I develop real empathy for him, then on other times I am get rather irritated.
Sintram is definitely reflecting evil in this novel. I also think that he is still part of society due to his standing in society and not due to his character. He is responsible for an estate and probably very rich. He is often put into connection with the devil.

I like the poetical writing of the book, but it is hard to follow ... I talked to a young colleague who had read this book in school and he had a hard time to get through this, which I can definitely understand. It is not so often that I have difficulties to stay focused, but I must admit I do have this now.
Daniel Deronda seem so much more interesting with regards to the characters.
Here I have rather a problem getting to know anyone for real.

Yes, it is a bit hard to follow.

I was thinking the same about the women - specifically, about how few options they seem to have in that area. I'm sure it's a beautiful place, but the range of eligible men is probably small.