# Kevenhüller explained — The Story of Gösta Berling

> Chapter companion for The Story of Gösta Berling by Selma Lagerlöf.

## What happens

Kevenhüller, a master inventor, is haunted by a wood-nymph who grants him the ability to create wondrous but singular marvels. After destroying his automatic carriage rather than give it to the king, he becomes a stonecutter, then builds a flying machine but crashes when attacking the wood-nymph. He later arrives at Ekeby, where he recognizes the wood-nymph disguised as a distressed woman. In despair, he creates a fire-wheel (a sun) but plans to burn down Ekeby to kill her. However, the wood-nymph saves the wheel, and Kevenhüller begs for release from his curse.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nature and the Supernatural

The wood-nymph embodies the supernatural, granting Kevenhüller magical abilities but cursing him with isolation and despair, reflecting the tension between human ambition and natural forces.

### Duality of Human Nature

Kevenhüller oscillates between creative genius and destructive madness, torn between his desire to benefit humanity and his inability to share his wonders.

### Redemption and Penitence

Kevenhüller seeks release from his curse and longs for ordinary, sensible work, suggesting a desire for redemption from the burden of his supernatural gift.

## Character check-ins

### Kevenhüller

The protagonist of the chapter, a master inventor cursed by a wood-nymph; he creates an automatic carriage, a flying machine, and a fire-wheel, but is driven to despair and attempts to burn Ekeby.

### Sintram

Not directly mentioned in excerpts, but the wood-nymph's presence at Ekeby is noted; Sintram is a pensioner at Ekeby, though not explicitly in this chapter.

### Gösta Berling

Not directly mentioned in excerpts, but as a pensioner at Ekeby, he is part of the group that shelters the wood-nymph; referenced indirectly.

### Beerencreutz

Not directly mentioned in excerpts, but as a pensioner at Ekeby, he is part of the group that serves the wood-nymph; referenced indirectly.

## Key lines

> He drove it with such speed against the palace wall that it was broken into a thousand pieces.

He crashed the carriage into the palace wall, shattering it completely.

_Kevenhüller destroys his own creation rather than give it to the king._

> Kevenhüller is going to fly!

Kevenhüller is about to take flight!

_Street boys announce Kevenhüller's attempt to fly with his mechanical wings._

> Kevenhüller had made a sun.

Kevenhüller had created a sun-like wheel that gives off light and heat.

_His final invention is a fire-wheel meant to illuminate and warm the world._

> I have never wished you any harm. I gave you

I never intended to hurt you. I gave you

_The wood-nymph claims she meant no harm, but Kevenhüller sees her as a curse._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-ii-xx-kevenh-ller
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters