# Gösta Berling — The Story of Gösta Berling character guide > Gösta Berling in The Story of Gösta Berling by Selma Lagerlöf. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Gösta, Herr Gösta, the terrible Gösta Berling, the good Madame Musica cure Gösta Berling **First appearance:** 0003-i-the-priest ## Snapshot A defrocked priest of dazzling charm and ruined reputation, he lands at Ekeby as a pensioner, torn between poetry and self-destruction. ## Who they are Once the most admired minister in Värmland, Gösta Berling lost his pulpit to drink and now lives among the eccentric pensioners of Ekeby, where his beauty, eloquence, and recklessness make him both beloved and dangerous. He genuinely longs to be good, yet a fatal weakness for adventure and women keeps dragging him and everyone near him toward disaster. His struggle between his better self and his worst impulses drives the novel's central drama, and nearly every other character is defined by how they answer his pull. ## In the story ### [The Story of Gösta Berling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/the-story-of-g-sta-berling) The protagonist, a former priest dismissed from his post, now living at Ekeby and grappling with his past sins. ### [The Priest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/i-the-priest) The young minister facing dismissal for drunkenness; delivers an inspired sermon but later flees in despair after Captain Bergh's reckless act. ### [II: The Beggar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/ii-the-beggar) The beggar, a dismissed priest contemplating suicide, who is persuaded by Margareta Celsing to live and becomes a guest at Ekeby. ### [The Landscape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-i-i-the-landscape) Mentioned as one of the knights of Ekeby who passed their joyous existence in this landscape. ### [Christmas Eve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-i-ii-christmas-eve) Leads the summoning of the devil and negotiates the contract for the seven estates, insisting on gentlemanly conduct. ### [III: Christmas Day](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-i-iii-christmas-day) Sits gloomily at the pensioners' table, meditating revenge; feels guilty over Ebba Dohna's suicide and does not help the major's wife. ### [Gösta Berling, Poet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-i-iv-g-sta-berling-poet) The poet-cavalier, fitted out for the ball, drives Anna Stjärnhök and ultimately elopes with her. ### [VI: The Ball at Ekeby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-i-vi-the-ball-at-ekeby) Kisses Marianne during the tableau, feels wounded by her shame at loving him, and retreats to the card room. ### [VIII: The Great Bear in Gurlitta Cliff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-i-viii-the-great-bear-in-gurlitta-cliff) Refuses to shoot the bear, moved by pity and thoughts of Marianne Sinclair. ### [IX: The Auction at Björne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-i-ix-the-auction-at-bj-rne) Visits the auction at Björne, speaks with Madame Gustava, and learns of Marianne's illness; hints at further trouble with the Broby clergyman. ### [The Young Countess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-i-x-the-young-countess) Experiences a revelation about the countess's noble soul and vows to be her servant; later abducts her in a sledge. ### [Ghost-Stories](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-i-xi-ghost-stories) Passive in the confrontation; later found chatting calmly with Sintram at Berga. ### [Ebba Dohna's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-i-xii-ebba-dohna-s-story) Defends himself against the countess's accusations, claiming he believed she knew his history, and leaves after being scorned. ### [XIII: Mamselle Marie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-i-xiii-mamselle-marie) Mentioned as having read a poem to the countess at Borg and being forbidden from her house, leading to his gloomy forebodings upon seeing Countess Märta arrive. ### [II: The Paths of Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-ii-ii-the-paths-of-life) Plans to marry the broom-girl as an act of self-destruction; is stopped by the young countess and reconciles with her. ### [III: Penitence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-ii-iii-penitence) Though absent, Gösta is the object of Elizabeth's love and the cause of her guilt; his presumed death triggers her desperate confession. ### [The Iron from Ekeby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-ii-iv-the-iron-from-ekeby) Takes the lead in investigating the six mines and confronting the pensioners about the lack of iron. ### [VIII: Madame Musica](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-ii-viii-madame-musica) Deeply depressed after helping the young countess escape; cannot be cheered by music until Löwenborg's devotion moves him to laugh again. ### [Patron Julius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-ii-x-patron-julius) Mentioned as one of the pensioners who may have arranged the substitution of the ox for the horse. ### [XI: The Plaster Saints](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-ii-xi-the-plaster-saints) Implied as one of the pensioners who carry Count Dohna out of the church, acting on behalf of the community's judgment. ### [XVI: The Drought](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-ii-xvi-the-drought) Gösta encounters the Broby clergyman and inspires him to pray for rain, reflecting on his own failures and the possibility of redemption. ### [XVII: The Child’s Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-ii-xvii-the-child-s-mother) Agrees to marry Elizabeth von Thurn out of a sense of sacrifice, despite his despair and love for her; he feels he is ruining her life. ### [XIX: The Broom-Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-ii-xix-the-broom-girl) The mad priest whose jesting engagement to the broom-girl led to her disappearance and the mob's anger. ### [Kevenhüller](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-ii-xx-kevenh-ller) Not directly mentioned in excerpts, but as a pensioner at Ekeby, he is part of the group that shelters the wood-nymph; referenced indirectly. ### [Broby Fair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-ii-xxi-broby-fair) One of the pensioners who painted Captain Lennart's face, contributing to the misunderstanding; he is present at Helgesäter and leaves humiliated. ### [The Forest Cottage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-ii-xxii-the-forest-cottage) Bound and lying on the floor of the forest cottage, he recounts his suicidal pact with Sintram and his remorse over Captain Lennart's death. ### [Margareta Celsing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiii-margareta-celsing) Kneels by the major's wife's bed, refuses her offer of Ekeby, and declares his intention to live humbly as a country fiddler, atoning for his sins by bringing pleasure to the poor. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/characters/gosta_berling - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_g_sta_berling_se/characters