Kristin Lavransdatter

Some years later, Kristin and her family visit the town of Hamar. Kristin is shown around a large church and is impressed by the art. She meets a Franciscan friar named Edvin who is responsible for the paintings in the “great cathedral” (26). She befriends Edvin and meets other unfortunates who are cared for by the church. Edvin seems to possess “a luminous and secret joy” (300), showing her his paintings and books.

Ragnfrid gives birth to another daughter, Ulvhild, whom she seems to love even more than Kristin. Ulvhild helps to pull Ragnfrid out of the deep depression into which she had sunk following the deaths of her sons. One day, however, a loose ox knocks down a cut tree trunk. In the chaos, the trunk falls on baby Ulvhild. Ragnhild blames herself for the injured baby, while Lavrans struggles to forgive his brother-in-law, Trond, who was present when the ox broke free. The family sends for the priest and a local woman named Fru Aashild, a childless woman who lives nearby with her husband. Though she is from a noble family, many people think that Fru Aashild is a “witch” (46). Aashild does what she can to help Ulvhild; the baby lives, but will likely be permanently impaired.

Kristin makes friends with Aashild, who lives with the family while the baby recovers. Though she does not understand the ramifications of all the woman’s advice, Kristin is fascinated by Aashild, particularly her mention of her nephew, Erlend Nikulaussøn. Aashild assures young Kristin that she is a “good match” (53) for any man.

At the age of 14, Kristin is betrothed to Simon Darre (also known as Simon Andressøn), a boy from the nearby town of Dyfrin. People congratulate Lavrans for making such a good match for his daughter. Kristin is not so sure. She likes Simon well enough, gradually growing accustomed to the idiosyncrasies of his appearance. In truth, however, she is becoming aware of how this match affects her relationship with Arne Grydsøn, a local boy and apprentice blacksmith. Kristin and Arne grew up together and, though she cannot express her feelings, she senses that Arne loves her. She knows she will not be allowed to love him. At the same time, Ulvhild grows up with her injury. While she survived the accident, she must always walk with a cane. Her parents plan to send her to a convent when she is of age.

One day, Kristin watches Ulvhild with Arne. While Ulvhild plays, Arne declares his love for Kristin and reveals his sadness that she will marry someone else. He begs her to ask her parents to delay the marriage long enough to give him a chance to prove himself as a worthy match for Kristin. Before she can answer, Ulvhild falls over and Kristin rushes away to help her sister. As she helps Ulvhild, she wonders whether she should take her sister’s place in the convent. Brother Edvin passes through the area and visits the family. Kristin is happy to see the priest and accepts his suggestion that she not question her parents or God.

Arne asks Kristin to meet him alone on a secluded path. Kristin agrees, slipping away from her unsuspecting family in secret. Arne declares his love for her again but Kristin declines his advances. She loves him, she suspects, but she cannot bring herself to defy her parents. Arne leaves, and Kristin returns home alone. As she is walking, she meets Bentein Prestesøn, the grandson of the local priest. Bentein is “quite drunk” (77) and aggressive. He attacks her, attempting to sexually assault her, but Kristin fights him off and runs away. She cannot bring herself to tell her parents about the attempted assault, worrying that she has been shamed or defiled.

Some time later, a funeral procession arrives in the village. Arne has been killed by Bentein in a bar fight in Hamar. Kristin is “very much distressed” (83). When she goes to Arne’s house to mourn with his family, Arne’s mother Inga reveals that the fight was over her. She accuses Kristin of seducing her son and shaming herself with Bentein, suggesting that she willingly had sex with her son’s murderer. Simon aggressively defends his betrothed, earning Lavrans’s appreciation. Kristin is taken home, where she explains “everything that had happened” (91) to her father. She suggests that she should go to the convent instead of her sister. Lavrans does not accept her suggestion at first. Kristin grows more apathetic toward Simon. When Lavrans talks frankly to Simon, they both agree that perhaps Kristin would benefit from spending a year in a convent. They make the arrangements and then escort her to a convent in Nonnester, Oslo.