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The Bell in the Lake


The engrossing epic novel - a #1 bestseller in Norway - of a young woman whose ...
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In what ways are the main characters alike? In what ways are they different?

Created: 09/28/22

Replies: 6

Posted Sep. 28, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

In what ways are the main characters alike? In what ways are they different?

In what ways are the main characters alike? In what ways are they different? Are they more similar than they are different, or more different than they are similar?


Posted Sep. 29, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
JLPen77

Join Date: 02/05/16

Posts: 362

RE: In what ways are the main characters...

They are all strong-willed, observant, intelligent, generous at heart, capable of commitment and great sacrifice….and ambitious in the sense of wanting more from their lives. But they want different things. Astrid wants the opportunity and freedom to learn and see more of the world, to put her strength to a higher purpose than simple survival, though she doesn’t know what. Schweigaard wants to advance his position in the church, but he also genuinely cares about improving the lives of his flock and sees the church as a way of doing that, opening their eyes to new ways, starting with a modern church building. Schönauer wants to advance his career and make a secure living, but through his artistic sensibility; he wants to create lasting beauty and sees the relocation and rebuilding of the stave church as a first step toward that goal.


Posted Oct. 02, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
beckyd

Join Date: 07/31/19

Posts: 92

RE: In what ways are the main characters...

All three have goals. Kai and Gerhard both have goals, initially related to their careers. The pastor wants to improve the lives of his parishioners while the architect wants to make a name for himself. They both end up wanting Astrid to be a part of their lives.They both come from families that could pay for schooling that allowed them to have occupations and are diligent, going to the nth degree to reach these goals. Both acomplished beyond what they realized they were capable of.
Astrid had minimal schooling (cut short due to financial contraints) with no hope of anything but a life of hard physical work along with caring for a husband, children and home. There would be no exploring what was beyond what she knew.
I think the two men are more different than Astrid. Being professional men they have opportunities of travel and advancement that Astrid could never have, due to her gender, the time she is living and her cultural constraints.


Posted Oct. 03, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
shannonl

Join Date: 12/04/17

Posts: 50

RE: In what ways are the main characters...

The main characters are alike because they live in the same world. They share a history, a culture and in many cases, relatives. They are all subject to poverty, isolation and their unforgiving climate.


Posted Oct. 08, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Patricia Ann

Join Date: 05/24/21

Posts: 72

RE: In what ways are the main characters...

I agree with JLPen77, who beautifully described their similarities and differences. They all were very ambitious. I think Kai’s desire to improve the lives of the community intensified after Astrid’s death. Before her death, he wanted to make some improvements, but I felt they were tied to advancing his career rather than making lasting improvements in the community. At the end, he had become committed to the community and had become a servant Pastor.


Posted Oct. 29, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
marganna

Join Date: 10/14/11

Posts: 153

RE: In what ways are the main characters...

Kai, Gerhard & Astrid all have ambitions & visions of advancement from their present ways of life. Each sees the church as a vehicle playing in this role of a different life.
Kai sees the church as a source of funds for his goals. He will be a good priest & advance beyond the village.
Gerhard sees the church as a work of art and thinks it will help him make a name for himself.
Astrid sees the church with the bells was part of a deep history & part of her ancestry & way of life.
How do they differ: Reflecting back, I don't think they do.


Posted Nov. 01, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
viquig

Join Date: 06/25/14

Posts: 82

RE: In what ways are the main characters...

The three main characters, Kai, Gerhard and Astrid were similar in their intelligence, ambition and determination. These characteristics made it possible for both Kai and Gerhard to be successful in their careers. Astrid was attractive to both men for her intelligence and determination (along with her beauty, of course). All three wanted to be successful in their lives.

As far as their differences, Kai was heavy-handed and unyielding in his determination to replace the Stave church. He didn't care that his actions upset the entire community of Butangen. This caused the villagers to be antagonized by his actions. Gerhard, on the other hand, was initially fueled by ambition, but became more sensitive to the feelings of the villagers and eventually realized that the removal of Butangen's church would be a loss to this community. Astrid was kind to everyone and wanted to improve her lot in life, but she was aware of the importance of traditions and social mores in her village; she was careful to avoid censure.


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