Sigrid Undset’s novel, Kristin Lavransdatter, features several strong female characters navigating life and society in fourteenth-century Norway: Kristin Lavransdatter, Fru Aashild, and Ragnfrid. Of these three women, the strongest among them is Fru Aashild. Her intelligence, disregard for societal pressures and success in life support this claim. Fru Aashild, a woman who once lived in seclusion from her community, is welcomed with open arms when she aids in the recovery of Kristin’s younger sister, Ulvhild, after an accident. Although Fru Aashild lives near Sil and has for many years, it is the kind-hearted help in a desperate time, and many times in the future, that bring her openly and freely into the community life.
Intelligence is one …show more content…
Her marriage is one of her weaknesses. Although she pursued love and defied her family to marry Bjørn, she is submissive to him, and he treats her poorly (130). She does not stand up to Bjørn, and she does most of, if not all the work at Haugen, their property. In another instance, a weakness is revealed as she shows concern for her reputation. After Eline, her nephew Erlend’s mistress, kills herself at Haugen, she worries about what people will say if the story comes out. Not only will it affect Kristin and Erlend, the two young lovers who come to her for assistance, but it could also reawaken rumors about her witchcraft if Eline’s poison, which was intended for Kristin, were to be mentioned …show more content…
She continuously keeps emotional distance from people in her family and does not trust herself in anything. She considers herself a source of bad luck and feels like a disappointment for not providing male heirs for the family. After the birth of Ramborg, her youngest daughter, Ragnfrid sends her to live with Tordis and Jon, tenders of Jørundgaard Ragnfrid’s home, so that her bad luck does not rub off on her child or bring injury to her. Ragnfrid is so concerned that there is something intrinsically wrong that she refrains from even seeing her baby (64). She claims that God must hate her for her sins and that is why she has experienced so much pain in her life (42). Ragnfrid feels helpless to her luck, forsaken by God and filled with guilt. She is unable to overcome these sentiments, making her weaker than she could
Intelligence is one …show more content…
Her marriage is one of her weaknesses. Although she pursued love and defied her family to marry Bjørn, she is submissive to him, and he treats her poorly (130). She does not stand up to Bjørn, and she does most of, if not all the work at Haugen, their property. In another instance, a weakness is revealed as she shows concern for her reputation. After Eline, her nephew Erlend’s mistress, kills herself at Haugen, she worries about what people will say if the story comes out. Not only will it affect Kristin and Erlend, the two young lovers who come to her for assistance, but it could also reawaken rumors about her witchcraft if Eline’s poison, which was intended for Kristin, were to be mentioned …show more content…
She continuously keeps emotional distance from people in her family and does not trust herself in anything. She considers herself a source of bad luck and feels like a disappointment for not providing male heirs for the family. After the birth of Ramborg, her youngest daughter, Ragnfrid sends her to live with Tordis and Jon, tenders of Jørundgaard Ragnfrid’s home, so that her bad luck does not rub off on her child or bring injury to her. Ragnfrid is so concerned that there is something intrinsically wrong that she refrains from even seeing her baby (64). She claims that God must hate her for her sins and that is why she has experienced so much pain in her life (42). Ragnfrid feels helpless to her luck, forsaken by God and filled with guilt. She is unable to overcome these sentiments, making her weaker than she could