# Herman — Downstream character guide

> Herman in Downstream by Sigfrid Siwertz.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Poor Herman, the excellent Herman

**First appearance:** 0000-part-i-i-the-cry

## Snapshot

The shy, wounded son of Ekbacken who walks the overgrown garden of Selambshof with Laura, quietly hoping she will not leave him behind.

## Who they are

Herman is the eligible young man of Ekbacken, the household where Laura Selamb performs her most flattering self, and his father secretly delights in the pair's walks together. He is at once shy and hurt in the neglected garden, sensing that Laura's talk of beauty is a farewell rather than a discovery. His gentle, unguarded affection becomes the measure against which Laura's calculating charm is exposed, giving the early chapters their quiet ache.

## Relationships

### [Laura](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se/characters/laura)

_romantic_

Herman and Laura share a deep, emotionally intense romantic bond, often central to the story's emotional core.

### [Laura](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se/characters/laura)

_romantic_

Herman and Laura share a deep, emotionally intense romantic bond, often central to the story's emotional core.

### [Laura](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se/characters/laura)

_romantic_

Herman and Laura share a deep, emotionally intense romantic bond, often central to the story's emotional core.

## In the story

### [September Spring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se/chapters/part-i-viii-september-spring)

Herman, now a student, visits Laura and is bewildered by her changed demeanor. He is jealous and hurt by her plan to leave for Switzerland.

### [X: Laura's Marriage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se/chapters/part-i-x-laura-s-marriage)

Feels superfluous at home, longs for Laura, becomes desperate, has an affair, leaves incriminating notes, is manipulated by Laura into confessing and agreeing to a settlement.

### [Peter Casts Out Majängen and Brings Home Ekbacken](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se/chapters/part-i-xii-peter-casts-out-maj-ngen-and-brings-home-ekbacken)

Falls deeper into debt and despair, unable to resist Peter's schemes, eventually forced to sell Ekbacken.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se/characters/herman
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se/characters