The Kalevala · Chapter
Rune XXXVIII: Ilmarinen’s Fruitless Wooing explained
Ilmarinen returns to Pohyola to woo Louhi's second daughter after the death of his first wife.
What happens
Ilmarinen returns to Pohyola to woo Louhi's second daughter after the death of his first wife. Louhi refuses, blaming him for her daughter's death. The maiden also rejects him, but he abducts her. During the journey home, she repeatedly threatens to escape by transforming into various animals, but Ilmarinen counters each threat. When they arrive in Kalevala, she mocks him. In anger, Ilmarinen sings her into a sea-gull. He then returns to his smithy and tells Wainamoinen that Pohyola still prospers because of the Sampo.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Marriage
Ilmarinen's failed attempt to woo Louhi's second daughter highlights the themes of rejection, abduction, and the consequences of a forced marriage.
Revenge and Retribution
Ilmarinen's anger at the maiden's mockery leads him to transform her into a sea-gull, an act of magical retribution.
Characters to notice
- Ilmarinen
The eternal metal-artist returns to Pohyola to woo Louhi's second daughter after his first wife's death. He abducts the maiden, but she mocks him, and he transforms her into a sea-gull.
- Louhi
Hostess of Pohyola, she refuses Ilmarinen's request for her youngest daughter, blaming him for the death of her first daughter.
- Wainamoinen
Old and truthful, he meets Ilmarinen on the highway and asks about his journey and the welfare of Pohyola.
Key passages
“Foolish was the Northland-hostess, When she gave her fairest virgin, In the bloom of youth and beauty To the blacksmith of Wainola, Only to be led to Mana, Like a lambkin to the slaughter!”
Louhi regrets giving her first daughter to Ilmarinen, who only led her to death.
Louhi's lament over her daughter's fate.
“I shall never give my daughter, Shall not give my youngest maiden Bride of thine to be hereafter, Life-companion at thy fireside. Sooner would I give the fair one To the cataract and whirlpool, To the river of Manala, To the waters of Tuoni!”
Louhi refuses to give her second daughter to Ilmarinen, saying she would rather give her to death.
Louhi's firm refusal of Ilmarinen's proposal.
“Follow thee this maid will never, Never heed unworthy suitors; Thou hast slain the Bride of Beauty, Once the Maiden of the Rainbow, Thou wouldst also slay her sister.”
The maiden refuses Ilmarinen, accusing him of causing her sister's death and fearing he would do the same to her.
The maiden's rejection of Ilmarinen.
“Sang the maiden to a sea-gull, Croaking from the ocean-ledges, Calling from the ocean-islands, Screeching on the sandy sea-coast, Flying to the winds opposing.”
Ilmarinen used his magic to transform the maiden into a sea-gull that cries from the shores.
Ilmarinen's magical transformation of the maiden.
“Why should not Pohyola prosper? There the Sampo grinds unceasing, Noisy rocks the lid in colors; Grinds one day the flour for eating, Grinds the second flour for selling, Grinds the third day flour for keeping; Thus it is Pohyola prospers.”
Ilmarinen explains that Pohyola thrives because the Sampo continuously grinds flour for food, trade, and storage.
Ilmarinen's explanation of Pohyola's prosperity due to the Sampo.