# Edith — Short Fiction character guide

> Edith in Short Fiction by Hjalmar Söderberg.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0001-short-fiction

## Snapshot

A doctor's wife whose warmth flickers on and off with her husband's fortunes, greeting a new fur coat with kisses meant for someone else.

## Who they are

Edith moves through Dr. Henck's household as the barometer of his dwindling pride: cold when he is poor, tender when he comes home draped in fur. Her embrace in the dark hall, and the whispered name that slips out with it, exposes the quiet bargain at the center of their marriage. She matters because Henck's Christmas reckoning with Richardt is really a reckoning with what she has come to want.

## Relationships

### [Bloom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/characters/bloom)

_romantic_

Bloom and Edith share a close romantic bond, marked by frequent and intimate interactions.

### [Tekla](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/characters/tekla)

_rivalry_

Edith and Tekla are rivals, likely competing for Bloom's romantic attention.

## In the story

### [Bloom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/chapters/bloom)

An acquaintance Bloom meets after his release; she chatters about common acquaintances and wrongs suffered; leads Bloom into the woods; steals his blue envelope while he sleeps.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/chapters/iii)

Richard's wife; preoccupied with her cousin Tom Gabel and insists Richard wear his decoration.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/chapters/iv)

Frederick's wife, seen in a stiff silk dress, whispering with her cousin.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/characters/edith
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_29_se/characters