The Story of Gösta Berling · Chapter
XVII: The Child’s Mother explained
The chapter follows Elizabeth von Thurn, who has been living in hiding as a peasant woman under the alias Elizabeth Karlsdotter after being abandoned by her husband, Count Henrik Dohna.
What happens
The chapter follows Elizabeth von Thurn, who has been living in hiding as a peasant woman under the alias Elizabeth Karlsdotter after being abandoned by her husband, Count Henrik Dohna. She gives birth prematurely to a sickly child and becomes consumed with the idea that the child must have a father. She seeks out Gösta Berling and asks him to marry her to legitimize the child, despite not loving him. Gösta agrees out of a sense of sacrifice and duty. The banns are published, and they are married quietly by the dean. Shortly after, the child dies, but Elizabeth finds a quiet triumph in having given her child a father. Meanwhile, Major Samzelius dies from a bear bite, but his wife does not return to Ekeby before the pensioners' year is up.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Sacrifice
Elizabeth marries Gösta not out of love but to give her child a father, sacrificing her own reputation and future. Gösta marries her despite his despair, sacrificing his own desires for her sake.
Guilt and Remorse
Elizabeth is driven by guilt over depriving her child of a father, while Gösta feels remorse for his past and for potentially ruining Elizabeth's life.
Social Class and Power
Elizabeth's fall from nobility to peasant life highlights class divisions; her marriage to Gösta, a disgraced priest, further underscores the loss of social standing.
Characters to notice
- The Young Countess
Referred to as 'the child’s mother' and later revealed as Elizabeth von Thurn; she lives in hiding as a peasant, gives birth prematurely, and marries Gösta Berling to give her child a father.
- Gösta Berling
Agrees to marry Elizabeth von Thurn out of a sense of sacrifice, despite his despair and love for her; he feels he is ruining her life.
- Henrik Dohna
Mentioned as Elizabeth's husband who abandoned her, leaving her child fatherless.
- Major Samzelius
Dies from a bear bite after being wounded by a tame bear; his death is noted as a concurrent event.
- Beerencreutz
Implied as one of the pensioners at Ekeby who are aware of the marriage but not directly involved.
Key passages
“The child was born in a peasant’s house east of the Klar river. The child’s mother had come seeking employment one day in early June.”
Elizabeth gave birth in a farmhouse east of the Klar River, having arrived there in early June looking for work.
Establishes the setting and Elizabeth's hidden identity.
“She called herself Elizabeth Karlsdotter; but she would not say from whence she came, for then perhaps they would tell her parents that she was there, and if they should find her, she would be tortured to death, she knew it.”
She used the alias Elizabeth Karlsdotter and refused to reveal her origins, fearing her family would find and harm her.
Highlights her fear and need for concealment.
“The child’s mother lay in a room beyond and listened to what they said of the little one. ... 'Poor little thing, with no father!'”
From the next room, Elizabeth overheard the farm people pitying the baby for being fatherless.
Shows the social stigma of illegitimacy and Elizabeth's growing concern.
“If he should be a weak and sickly man, how could she take the responsibility of depriving him of the advantages of birth and riches?”
She worried that if her child grew up frail, she would be wrong to deny him the benefits of a noble lineage.
Reveals her internal conflict about the child's future.
“I will do everything you wish, countess.”
Gösta agreed to marry her, accepting her request without hesitation.
Demonstrates Gösta's willingness to sacrifice for her.
“The child’s mother shone with a quiet joy, as if she had attained a great end in life. The bridegroom was in despair.”
Elizabeth felt a serene happiness at achieving her goal, while Gösta was deeply distressed.
Contrasts their emotional states after the marriage.
