# Ragnfrid Ivarsdatter — The Bridal Wreath character guide

> Ragnfrid Ivarsdatter in The Bridal Wreath by Sigrid Undset.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Ragnfrid

**First appearance:** 0000-part-i-j-rundgaard

## Snapshot

Kristin's mother, whose heavy moods and buried sorrows shadow the household and complicate her daughter's understanding of womanhood and marriage.

## Who they are

Ragnfrid corrects and chides where Lavrans plays and jests, and Kristin grows up feeling the weight of her mother's silence without knowing its source. The birth of little Ulvhild briefly restores Ragnfrid's bloom and gentleness, showing what joy might have been hers. Her grief and her sharp judgments of Erlend shape Kristin's sense of what a wife must endure and what a mother can forgive.

## Relationships

### [Kristin Lavransdatter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bridal_wreath_se/characters/kristin_lavransdatter)

_family_

Kristin's mother, who is deeply loving but often anxious and overprotective, struggling with her own past and her daughter's rebellious choices.

### [Kristin Lavransdatter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bridal_wreath_se/characters/kristin_lavransdatter)

_family_

Kristin's mother, who is deeply loving but often anxious and overprotective, struggling with her own past and her daughter's rebellious choices.

### [Kristin Lavransdatter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bridal_wreath_se/characters/kristin_lavransdatter)

_family_

Kristin's mother, who is deeply loving but often anxious and overprotective, struggling with her own past and her daughter's rebellious choices.

## In the story

### [Part I: Jörundgaard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bridal_wreath_se/chapters/part-i-j-rundgaard)

Ragnfrid is a sorrowful mother, struggling with her grief over Ulvhild and her strained relationship with Lavrans.

### [The Elf-Maid's Lure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bridal_wreath_se/chapters/i)

Ragnfrid prepares Kristin for the journey and waves goodbye from the manor.

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

Anxious about Kristin's journey; prepares her daughter for the trip and gives her instructions.

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

Bears another daughter, Ulvhild, and dotes on her, regaining her bloom and happiness. After the accident, she is consumed by guilt and despair, blaming herself for the family's misfortune.

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

Ragnfrid is deeply involved in Ulvhild's care, often holding her daughter. She shows subtle displeasure at Lady Aashild's influence and the Sundbu situation.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bridal_wreath_se/chapters/v)

Pleased with the betrothal, but still haunted by her sense of bringing ill-fortune to her children.

### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bridal_wreath_se/chapters/vii)

Anxious and protective, she fears for Kristin's reputation and well-being.

### [Part II: The Garland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bridal_wreath_se/chapters/part-ii-the-garland)

Ragnfrid is Kristin's mother, who accompanies her to Oslo and is involved in the arrangements for her stay at the convent.

### [Part III: Lavrans Björgulfsön](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bridal_wreath_se/chapters/part-iii-lavrans-bj-rgulfs-n)

Lavrans's wife; their relationship and shared burdens are highlighted.

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

Confronts Kristin about her relationship with Erlend, revealing Lavrans's anger; speaks of her own love for Kristin and her regrets.

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

Warns Lavrans that forcing Kristin to forget Erlend may lead to disaster.

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

Mentioned as having told Kristin about Lavrans's words regarding Arne; present in the household.

### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bridal_wreath_se/chapters/v)

Present when Lavrans announces his consent to the betrothal.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bridal_wreath_se/chapters/vi)

Helps Kristin prepare her portion; misses Ulvhild and is joyless about the betrothal.

### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bridal_wreath_se/chapters/vii)

She examines Kristin's blue velvet cloak and prepares the bride-chest, showing her maternal care and involvement in the wedding preparations.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bridal_wreath_se/chapters/viii)

Confesses to Lavrans that she was not a maid when they married.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bridal_wreath_se/characters/ragnfrid_ivarsdatter
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bridal_wreath_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bridal_wreath_se/characters