Sture

Sture is frightened by the authority confronting him but remarkably brave when his family is threatened. Even while visibly shaking, he tries to shield Thora from the consequences of their theft.

His actions are driven by necessity rather than greed. With his father missing, his mother bedridden, and younger children requiring food, he steals because the family's normal means of survival have collapsed.

Sture also possesses a strong sense of responsibility for someone only twelve years old. He accepts punishment himself when doing so can spare his younger sister.

Sture is an ordinary twelve-year-old with no combat training.

He is capable of farm work and the physical tasks expected of a child in a poor rural household.

His defining strength is psychological rather than physical: despite intense fear, he speaks on behalf of his family and accepts suffering to protect Thora.

Sture and Thora are caught after stealing food from Ketil's property. Snake tricks them into admitting the theft of a sack of flour by claiming the owner's name is written inside the bag.

When they are brought before Ketil, Thorgil proposes mutilation as punishment. Pater, who understands poverty from his own past, instead suggests that the family become servants and work off its debts. Ketil agrees but still orders ten blows for each child.

Sture asks to receive Thora's punishment as well. Thorgil delivers the first strike with such force that Sture is knocked to the ground, horrifying Ketil, who takes over the punishment himself.

The episode exposes the contradiction in Ketil's self-image: even a comparatively compassionate landowner participates in a system where hungry children can be beaten for taking food needed to survive.

Thora is Sture's younger sister. He asks to take her punishment in addition to his own.

Snorri is Sture's missing father, who rented land from Ketil.

Bo is Sture's grandfather.

Ketil owns the land on which Sture's family lives and determines the children's punishment.

Snake catches Sture and Thora and brings them before Ketil.

Pater proposes allowing Sture's family to repay its debts through service instead of imposing the far harsher punishment suggested by Thorgil.

Thorgil delivers the first blow of Sture's punishment with frightening force.