Letters Written During a Short Residence in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark · Chapters
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Chapter companions for Letters Written During a Short Residence in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark by Mary Wollstonecraft.
Chapter 1
Letters Written During a Short Residence in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark
Mary Wollstonecraft recounts her travels through Scandinavia, blending observations of nature, society, and personal reflections on freedom, gender roles, and commerce. She critiques the servitude of women, the moral implications of trade, and the sublime beauty of the landscapes, while also grappling with her own emotional turmoil and separation from her daughter.
Chapter 2
Letter I
Mary Wollstonecraft recounts her arduous eleven-day sea voyage to Sweden, her difficult landing on the coast, and her initial impressions of the Swedish landscape and people. She describes the despotism and inefficiency she encounters, the hospitality of a pilot officer and his family, and her emotional response to the natural beauty of the scene, which temporarily lifts her spirits.
Chapter 3
Letter II
Wollstonecraft describes the town of Gothenburg, its Dutch-built canals, and the commercial society dominated by wealthy merchants. She critiques the excessive hospitality, formal politeness, and heavy dining customs of the Swedes, contrasting them with the natural politeness of the peasantry. The letter ends with a lyrical, romantic reverie on the beauty of the Swedish summer night, offering an escape from social constraints.
Chapter 4
Letter III
Wollstonecraft continues her observations on Swedish society, focusing on the economic and social conditions of the poor, the treatment of servants, and the effects of war on neutral nations. She critiques the oppressive gender roles and class distinctions, reflects on the value of literature and travel, and contrasts natural beauty with artificial improvements in landscape design.
Chapter 5
Letter IV
Wollstonecraft reflects on the effects of the long Swedish winter on the people, observing their industriousness in spinning and weaving. She criticizes the ignorance of mothers in child-rearing, which she blames for the sickly appearance of children, and contrasts the behavior of Swedish country girls with those in England and America, attributing promiscuity to idleness rather than climate. She praises the frankness and tenderness of the peasantry but admits that their narrow minds would leave her own mind languishing for more cultivated society.
Chapter 6
Letter V
Wollstonecraft travels through Sweden towards Norway, describing the landscape, customs, and her reflections on solitude and nature. She observes the uncultivated terrain, the discomforts of Swedish inns, and the beauty of the northern night, culminating in a ferry crossing to Norway.
Chapter 7
Letter VI
Wollstonecraft describes her sea voyage to Laurvig (Larvik) and her arrival in Tonsberg, Norway. She reflects on the kindness of strangers, the beauty of the Norwegian landscape, and her anxieties about raising her daughter in a world that oppresses women. The chapter is marked by deep emotional introspection, memories of lost loved ones, and a meditation on nature as both a source of sublime joy and melancholy.
Chapter 8
Letter VII
Wollstonecraft details the mild legal system of Norway and Denmark, the humane reforms of the Prince Royal, and the relatively free and egalitarian society she observes. She discusses the economy, the distribution of property, the character of the people, and the influence of the French Revolution, while also recounting anecdotes that illustrate the prince's benevolence.
Chapter 9
Letter VIII
Wollstonecraft describes her time in Tonsberg, Norway, where she finds solace in nature, takes up rowing for exercise, and reflects on the sublime landscape. She observes the character of the Norwegians, particularly the women, and critiques local customs regarding child-rearing and commerce. She also recounts her interactions with the mayor, a criminal's gratitude, and her own physical and emotional recovery.
Chapter 10
Letter IX
Wollstonecraft describes a nobleman's neglected estate near Tonsberg, contrasting the decayed interior with the sublime, living forest outside. She reflects on feudal land tenure, the role of the clergy, and the gradual improvement of Norwegian society through industry and labor. The letter concludes with a meditation on solitude, self-knowledge, and the tension between wild simplicity and polished civilization.
Chapter 11
Letter X
Wollstonecraft travels from Tonsberg to Laurvig, reflecting on the beauty of beech groves and the sublime in nature. She contrasts this with her encounter with lawyers in Laurvig, criticizing their chicanery and praising Count Bernstorff's reform introducing mediators to reduce litigation. She discusses the iron manufactory, the Count of Laurvig's estate, and the negative effects of monopolistic land ownership on commerce. The journey continues to Helgeraac, where she sails among rocky islands, feeling solitary and sorrowful, yet finding solace in imagination.
Chapter 12
Letter XI
Wollstonecraft describes her journey from Portoer to Rusoer, a bleak and rocky coastal town. She reflects on the oppressive landscape, the mercantile and morally blunted character of the inhabitants, and the contrast between the sublime natural scenery and the stifling social environment. She also recounts an evening boat ride with a French horn, which evokes thoughts of Shakespeare's magic island, and a dinner with the English vice-consul where she observes the early signs of cultural improvement.
Chapter 13
Letter XII
Wollstonecraft describes her journey from East Rusoer to Helgeraac, feeling a sense of emancipation upon landing. She travels to Tonsberg, where the beauty of nature contrasts with her inner sadness and loneliness. She reflects on the illusive nature of happiness founded on virtue, the pain of disappointed affection, and the rarity of true friendship and domestic happiness. The letter ends with her anticipation of reuniting with her daughter in Gothenburg.
Chapter 14
Letter XIII
Wollstonecraft describes her journey through Norway, contrasting the sublime grandeur of nature with the more cultivated landscapes near Christiania. She reflects on the character of the Norwegian people, their commerce, and their political sympathies with the French Revolution, while also expressing personal melancholy and disillusionment with human nature.
Chapter 15
Letter XIV
Wollstonecraft reflects on the character of Norwegian farmers, the odels right law, and the architecture of Christiania, contrasting the simplicity and virtue of inland life with the cunning of the coast. She muses on commerce, liberty, and the need for taste in moral development, while preparing for departure.
Chapter 16
Letter XV
Wollstonecraft departs Christiania for Fredericstadt, where she is delayed from visiting a cascade. She reflects on the sublime beauty of Norwegian forests and the devastation of wildfires, then visits a cataract that stirs profound thoughts on life, death, and immortality. She observes sawmills, a bridge, and local estates, and concludes with a skeptical inquiry into sea monsters.
Chapter 17
Letter XVI
Wollstonecraft recounts her arduous journey from Fredericstadt to Stromstad, including getting lost among the rocks at night, the frustrating delays caused by indifferent peasants and post-house officials, and the squalid conditions at inns. She reflects on the beauty of the landscape, the harshness of rural life, and her deep longing to be reunited with her daughter.
Chapter 18
Letter XVII
Wollstonecraft visits Trollhättan to see the famous waterfall and the canal works, reflecting on the sublime power of nature versus human industry. She contrasts the poverty of Sweden with the relative independence of Norwegian peasants, critiques Swedish laws and gender relations, and describes her journey from Gothenburg to Elsineur en route to Copenhagen.
Chapter 19
Letter XVIII: Copenhagen
Wollstonecraft describes her arrival in Copenhagen, observing the devastation from a recent fire that destroyed a quarter of the city. She criticizes the lack of public spirit and effective leadership, particularly the Prince Royal's indecisiveness. She reflects on the character of the Danes, noting their indolence and domestic tyranny. The letter includes a defense of the unfortunate Queen Matilda, whom she sees as a victim of political intrigue, and a critique of the king's debility and the court's hypocrisy.
Chapter 20
Letter XIX
Wollstonecraft reflects on a public execution she witnesses in Copenhagen, criticizing capital punishment and the crowd's morbid curiosity. She condemns the ignorance and superstition of the populace, including a woman who drinks the criminal's blood as a remedy. She links societal ills to the adoration of property and contrasts Danish servitude with Norwegian liberty. She also discusses gender relations, noting the oppressive state of women and the domestic tyranny of men, and concludes by comparing the virtues of different nations, arguing that true virtue correlates with scientific progress.
Chapter 21
Letter XX
Wollstonecraft reflects on the cultural and social state of Denmark, critiquing the court's parsimony, the lack of artistic and literary encouragement, and the dullness of society. She visits the palace of Rosembourg, the public library, and a theatre, offering observations on the Danish character, the role of Count Bernstorff, and the condition of the King. She also contrasts French and English popular amusements, lamenting the prevalence of drinking over intellectual improvement.
Chapter 22
Letter XXI
Wollstonecraft reflects on her meeting with Count Bernstorff, critiquing his cautious and reputation-conscious character. She observes the Danish aversion to innovation and the pleasant but unremarkable surroundings of Copenhagen, while expressing a desire to leave for Hamburg. The chapter ends with a melancholic farewell.
Chapter 23
Letter XXII
Wollstonecraft travels through Germany, contrasting its lively, industrious towns with the somber silence of Denmark. She reflects on the despotism of petty princes, the waste of human life in war, and the condition of women and the poor. A tedious crossing of the Little Belt, where her child goes hungry, triggers a meditation on separation and the fragility of human connections.
Chapter 24
Letter XXIII
Wollstonecraft describes her arrival in Hamburg and Altona, critiquing the mercantile spirit of Hamburg's inhabitants and contrasting their greed with the dignified suffering of French emigrants. She reflects on the moral decay caused by commerce, mentions Madame la Fayette's plight, and addresses a personal reproach to Imlay for his own transformation through business.
Chapter 25
Letter XXIV
Wollstonecraft describes her uncomfortable lodgings in Altona, the high cost of living, and the pervasive influence of commerce along the Elbe. She contrasts the flat, trade-driven landscape with the sublime mountains and lakes of her recent travels, expressing disgust at the dishonesty of merchants and the moral corruption of commerce. She reflects on the contrast between nature's tranquility and the din of trade, and laments the greed that undermines human life.
Chapter 26
Letter XXV
Wollstonecraft describes the French theatre at Altona and notes that Hamburg's theatres are not yet open. She decides to sail for England with the first fair wind, abandoning her planned tour through Germany to Switzerland due to the French army and the advancing season. She expresses weariness with travel and, upon seeing Dover cliffs, finds them insignificant compared to those of Sweden and Norway. She concludes by preparing for her journey to London, struggling with heavy thoughts.
Chapter 27
Appendix
Wollstonecraft reflects on how private cares hindered her observations during the journey, but subsequent reflection reveals a conviction of progress in Sweden and Denmark. She critiques partial civilization due to poverty and slavery, yet notes the decline of despotism and anarchy. She warns against premature reforms, advocating for gradual change rooted in national understanding and time.
