The Mercies

Ursa is one of two central characters in The Mercies. She is a native of Bergen, a larger town in southwestern Norway. Her father was once a wealthy shipbuilder, and though the family has since fallen hard times, Ursa still grows up in relative comfort; unlike Maren, Ursa does not have to cook and clean for her household. Her childhood is characterized by her close relationship with her ailing sister, and she is sad to leave her family behind when her father arranges her marriage with Absalom Cornet. Ursa moves to Vardø as Cornet’s wife. She learns quickly that Absalom is a cold and even cruel man, but as a woman she has no rights or public identity outside her marriage. Ursa is also shocked by the cold and sparse lifestyle of Vardø but finds comfort in a friendship and eventually a romantic relationship with Maren. Ursa helps Maren discover Absalom’s intentions in Vardø. By the end of the novel, Ursa is free of Absalom but must sacrifice her relationship with Maren. Nevertheless, she grows significantly over the course of the story, evolving from a relatively traditional woman—one who wants to learn to be a “proper” wife—to a woman who kills her husband to protect someone she loves.

Diinna is Maren’s sister-in-law. Diinna is of the Sámi people, who were native to the land of Vardø but driven out by more powerful colonizers. Diinna is married to Maren’s brother, Erik, before he dies in the storm, and she gives birth to a boy whom she names after his now deceased father. Despite working with the Vardø community, marrying one of their men, and giving birth to one of their boys, Diinna never enjoys the community’s true acceptance. As a Sámi, she looks different and practices religious rituals that Christians see as sinful. Diinna is the first woman suspected of witchcraft, but she escapes with her son before any harm can come to her. Diinna is a victim of prejudice and a heroine who refuses to sacrifice her culture in order to fit in.

Kirsten is a hero in The Mercies. When Vardø’s men die in the storm, Kirsten leads the women in efforts to rebuild their community. She defies gender roles to keep the rest of the women alive. Without Kirsten’s efforts to fish, care for the reindeer, and rebuild, it is possible that the women would have died. Because Kirsten’s behavior is masculine, many of the women take her leadership for granted. However, her nonconformity threatens some women, like Toril, who accuses Kirsten of being a witch. Kirsten subsequently endures an agonizing trial and is executed. Her death proves to the women that they made a mistake in accusing her. Kirsten is the victim of scapegoating and mob mentality, as well as a symbol of the danger of dogmatic thinking.