The Ring

The Ring Summary | Detailed Summary

As the story begins, we meet the two central characters, a young Danish squire named Sigismund and his new wife, Lovisa. The couple, who have been married only one week, are out for a walk on their land.

Sigismund and Lovisa's courtship was not an easy one. Lovisa's parents are from a higher social class than Sigismund's are, and they initially disapproved of their relationship. As a result, for ten years, the couple met secretly. Lovisa's parents eventually relented and the couple married.

The newlyweds are very happy and are particularly relieved that they can now be seen together in public without fear of evoking their parents' anger. They seem to take pleasure in everyday things: carriage rides, sharing meals and their dogs and sheep.

Lovisa seems to be particularly happy with her new life. Even though their lifestyle is far simpler than what she is accustomed to, she assures her husband that she is quite content. Her biggest joy is the fact that for the first time in her life, she is not keeping any secrets.

Sigismund and Lovisa walk toward the field where Sigismund's sheep are kept. Sigismund had studied sheep breeding abroad and his herd is a particular source of pride. Lovisa is both proud of, and amused by, her husband.

Arriving at the sheepfold, they are greeted by Mathias, the shipmaster who informs them that one of the English sheep Sigismund had brought with him when he returned from England had died and two others were sick. This news troubles Sigismund and so he and Mathias engage in an intense conversation.

As the men talk, Lovisa begins to think of other things. Soon, however, their conversation catches her attention and she learns that a sheep thief is most likely the culprit. The thief's actions are described as being like those of a wolf; he sneaks into the sheepfold and disappears with his prey, leaving no trace in his wake. She also learns that this thief recently killed a man on a nearby estate and badly injured his son. The thief's arm was broken in the process.

Before long, the sick lambs are brought for Sigismund and Mathias to examine. Lovisa appears to be distressed at the lambs' discomfort and so Sigismund suggests that she begin walking home and tells her he will soon catch up.

Lovisa is hurt by Sigismund's dismissal of her, feeling he cares more about his sheep than about her. She asks him to bring her hat with him when he returns because she wants to feel the warmth of the sun on her face as she walks.

As Lovisa walks along the path toward home, she begins to enjoy the feeling of being alone. As she walks, she notices a concealed glade, and decides to play a trick on her husband by hiding from him there. As Lovisa negotiates her way into the glade, she amuses herself with thoughts of her husband searching for her.

Lovisa's amusement abruptly ends when she enters the glade and comes face to face with the sheep thief. Without taking her eyes from the man that stands before her, Lovisa surveys the glade and observes that it appears as though this man has been living there for some time.

The man points the knife he is holding directly to Lovisa's throat. Then, slowly, he returns the knife to the sheath by his belt.

In an effort to spare her life, Lovisa removes her wedding ring and offers it to the man. In the process, however, she drops both the ring and the handkerchief she was holding. The ring lands on the ground near the man's foot and he quickly kicks it into the brush. Then, he picks up the handkerchief, draws his knife, wraps the knife in the fabric and returns it to its sheath. When he finishes, he leaves the glade, sparing Lovisa's life.

Shaken, Lovisa exits the glade and begins to walk toward home. Sigismund sees her and catches up, and is full of talk about his lambs. Noticing Lovisa's silence, he stops and asks what is bothering her.

Lovisa responds that she has lost her wedding ring. As she tells her husband this, she realizes that her life is destined to be full of "poverty, persecution and total loneliness." Sigismund assumes Lovisa is troubled by the loss of her ring and promises to find her another.

As they continue to walk home, Sigismund asks his wife is she remembers where she last had her ring. Lovisa replies that she has no idea.