# Oline — Growth of the Soil character guide > Oline in Growth of the Soil by Knut Hamsun. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** old Oline, the imperishable Oline, Poor Oline **First appearance:** 0005-v ## Snapshot The imperishable Oline, a gossip-mongering old woman who trades in news and small cruelties, squeezing a cheese or a handful of wool from every visit. ## Who they are Oline survives by her tongue, carrying scandal from village to village and always angling for a scrap of inheritance or charity. She is a mother who begged and maybe stole for her children, yet her methods are edged with trickery and meanness that make her feared as much as pitied. Her meddling stirs trouble between neighbors and kin, and her false report of Uncle Sivert's dying brings young Sivert on a journey that exposes the old man's bitterness and the hollow promise of his chest. ## Relationships ### [Isak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/isak) _psychological_ Oline is a manipulative gossip who constantly schemes against Isak and his household, causing trouble. ### [Inger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/inger) _psychological_ Oline is a spiteful antagonist to Inger, spreading malicious gossip and undermining her reputation. ### [Sivert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/sivert) _psychological_ Oline tries to manipulate Sivert with gossip, but he is too shrewd and grounded to fall for her schemes. ### [Barbro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/barbro) _psychological_ Oline uses Barbro's secrets and scandals as fodder for gossip, manipulating the community's perception of her. ### [Isak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/isak) _psychological_ Oline is a manipulative gossip who constantly schemes against Isak and his household, causing trouble. ### [Isak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/isak) _psychological_ Oline is a manipulative gossip who constantly schemes against Isak and his household, causing trouble. ### [Inger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/inger) _psychological_ Oline is a spiteful antagonist to Inger, spreading malicious gossip and undermining her reputation. ### [Barbro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/barbro) _psychological_ Oline uses Barbro's secrets and scandals as fodder for gossip, manipulating the community's perception of her. ### [Sivert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/sivert) _psychological_ Oline tries to manipulate Sivert with gossip, but he is too shrewd and grounded to fall for her schemes. ### [Sivert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/sivert) _psychological_ Oline tries to manipulate Sivert with gossip, but he is too shrewd and grounded to fall for her schemes. ### [Barbro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/barbro) _psychological_ Oline uses Barbro's secrets and scandals as fodder for gossip, manipulating the community's perception of her. ### [Inger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/inger) _psychological_ Oline is a spiteful antagonist to Inger, spreading malicious gossip and undermining her reputation. ## In the story ### [Book I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/book-i) Gossipy neighbor who reports Inger's infanticide to the authorities. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/iv) Mentioned as the woman who eventually comes to help with the wedding and christening. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/vi) Visits Sellanraa, flatters Isak, probes about a new child, and suggests she could manage the farm when Inger goes to prison. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/vii) Oline is suspected by Inger of having sent the hare that supposedly caused the harelip, and is feared to have spread the secret. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/viii) Oline is caring for the children at Sellanraa, making coffee for Lapps and gossiping maliciously about Inger's harelip and infanticide, provoking Isak's anger. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/ix) Stirs the blood during slaughter, hints at needing coffee, makes veiled remarks about Inger, and claims there are only fifteen goats instead of sixteen, implying she traded one. ### [Geissler's Visit and Inger's Freedom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/x) Oline is present at the farm, grumbling about the improvements, and is given a young wether by Isak as a parting gift. ### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/xii) Mentioned as possibly spreading gossip about Inger. ### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/xiv) Visits Sellanraa, flatters Inger, and examines her gold ring, gossiping about Inger's wealth and learning. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/xvii) Manipulates Eleseus into visiting his dying uncle and whispers to Inger about Barbro. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/xviii) Invited to a feast by Uncle Sivert and added as a beneficiary to the will. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/i) Brings news of Old Sivert's depleted estate, laments being cheated of her inheritance, and gossips about the mowing-machine. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/iii) Rescues Axel alongside Brede, argues with Brede over who deserves credit, and mentions Barbro's situation. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/viii) Oline is displeased with Barbro's acquittal and gossips while working at Maaneland. ### [Barbro's Return to Maaneland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/x) Resists leaving Maaneland after Barbro's return, using excuses and flattery to stay on. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/oline - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters