# Petter Nord — Short Fiction character guide

> Petter Nord in Short Fiction by Selma Lagerlöf.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** little Petter Nord, Poor Petter Nord, Young Petter Nord, Nord, the virtuous Petter Nord

**First appearance:** 0002-the-spirit-of-fasting-and-petter-nord

## Snapshot

A once-wild Värmland boy ground gray by the machine-shop, so proud of his virtue that he cannot see what it has cost him.

## Who they are

Petter Nord has traded his mice and mischief for silent springs and wheels, dating his goodness from the night Joy failed him and Fasting became his friend. His tension is between the virtuous self he has built and the three disreputable Petters who tempt him back toward the village and Halfvorson's fifty crowns. He matters because his cautious refusal of revenge — and the question of whether that refusal is wisdom or cowardice — turns the tale into a quiet reckoning with what a poor life can afford.

## Relationships

### [Halfvorson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/characters/halfvorson)

_friendship_

Halfvorson and Petter Nord are close companions, sharing adventures and mutual support.

### [Halfvorson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/characters/halfvorson)

_friendship_

Halfvorson and Petter Nord are close companions, sharing adventures and mutual support.

### [Halfvorson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/characters/halfvorson)

_friendship_

Halfvorson and Petter Nord are close companions, sharing adventures and mutual support.

## In the story

### [Short Fiction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/short-fiction)

A young man whose actions drive events related to money and shame.

### [The Spirit of Fasting and Petter Nord](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/the-spirit-of-fasting-and-petter-nord)

The poor boy who finds a fifty-crown note and struggles with his conscience.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/i)

Finds and hides a fifty-crown note, struggles with temptation, attends a ball, and is falsely accused of theft.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/ii)

Returns to town with three companions to confront Halfvorson; is captured, beaten, and paraded through the streets.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/iii)

Visits Edith, initially believing she loves him, but learns she called him to confront him about his revenge plot that caused her illness.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/iv)

The madman waiting in the graveyard, tormented by guilt and fear.

### [The Brothers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/the-brothers)

Referenced indirectly as a type of the poor, unfortunate soul; the clerk's brother is a similar figure of persistent bad luck.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/chapters/i)

The vinedresser who shows kindness to the old woman.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/characters/petter_nord
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_50_se/characters