Isak Dinesen's short story “The Ring” begins in the 19th century Danish countryside on a bright July morning. A young newlywed couple, named Sigismund and Lovisa, walk happily across their land, until they reach a meadow full of Sigismund's Danish sheep and prized Cotswold rams. Upon reaching the camp, Mathias, Sigismund's shepherd, informs Sigismund that many prized sheep and rams have fallen ill and some have died. Although she is not interested in their conversation, she marvels at her husband's intelligence on the subject. The conversation quickly catches his attention when he hears that a man has ravaged the quiet countryside by "kill[ing] and drag[ing] away his prey like a wolf" (Dinesen 884). During one of his more recent transgressions, he killed a shepherd and injured his son on their nearby farm. Lovisa is horrified to hear this, agreeing with Mathias that the thief should be "hanged" (Dinesen 884). Sigismund disagrees with the two, wishing no harm to the man and claiming that he is a “poor devil” (Dinesen 885). Sigismund then turns to his sheep and his examination causes them to groan horribly. Seeing that this disturbs Lovisa, he urges her to head towards their house, but advises her to do so slowly, so that he can reach her quickly. She obeys him and as she walks she admires with satisfaction the land and its contents, which belong to Sigismondo and therefore belong to her. As Lovisa walks, rebellious thoughts cross her mind. Contemptuous and angry that the sheep had taken the right of way over her, she conjures up the idea that straying from the path home and hiding from her husband in the nearby forest would give her redemption… middle of paper…. .. he was allowed to see “the sorrows and sins of this earth” (Dinesen 888). It is suggested that Lovisa's changes are permanent and profound, as Sigismondo notes that when he kisses her hand, "[it] was cold and not quite the same hand he had last kissed" (Dinesen 888). Lovisa's character has evolved from an obedient and ignorant child to an independent and knowledgeable woman. His journey home is symbolic of life itself, and his detour is symbolic of the point at which all people come to realize that their lives are lived in isolation, in an evil and warlike world. The dramatic changes that the character Lovisa has experienced over the course of “The Ring” communicate the existential theme of the story. Works Cited Dinesen, Isak. "The Ring." Elements of literature: world literature. Ed. Patricia McCambridge. Austin: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 2006. 883-88. Press.