Robber-girl

Robber-girl is the daughter of the robber-woman who takes Gerda captive, and a pivotal ally in Gerda's search for Kay. Headstrong and accustomed to getting her own way, she first claims Gerda as a playmate under the rough rules of the Robber Castle. Yet she also interrupts the danger Gerda faces there, listens to her story, and ultimately arranges her escape. Her combination of possessiveness, impulsive authority, and practical generosity makes her help a striking turning point in Gerda's journey.

Identity and Introduction

Robber-girl is introduced amid the robbers' attack on Gerda's carriage. When her mother considers Gerda a potential meal, the girl intervenes by biting her mother's ear and insisting that Gerda should play with her. She demands Gerda's muff and pretty dress and expects her to share her bed. The interruption gives Gerda time to escape the immediate threat, though Robber-girl's first offer of protection is still framed as ownership: Gerda is to remain alive so long as she does not provoke the girl.

The narrative presents her as about Gerda's size but stronger, with broader shoulders, dark skin, and black eyes. Her mournful look contrasts with her forceful behavior. She is self-willed enough to take over the coach ride and make those around her accommodate her wishes; at the same time, the scene shows that she can act decisively on someone else's behalf. Her mother calls her naughty and ugly, while the robbers laugh at their rough play, establishing a household where affection and aggression are expressed through unruly physical teasing.

Gerda at the Robber Castle

At the Robber Castle, Robber-girl claims the authority to decide what happens to Gerda. She reassures her that the robbers will not kill her, then wipes away her tears and puts on Gerda's soft, warm muff. The gesture is tender, but it does not make their relationship equal: Robber-girl retains the muff and continues to set the terms of their companionship. She takes Gerda into the smoky hall, feeds her, and brings her to sleep among the animals she keeps there.

That night, Robber-girl sleeps with one arm across Gerda and a knife in her other hand, while Gerda remains awake, uncertain of her safety. The contrast captures the instability of their first bond: Robber-girl can be protective and frightening at once. She asks to hear Gerda's account again, including why she has gone out into the world and how fond she is of Kay. Her curiosity gives Gerda a chance to tell the story that will shape the girl's next actions, even though Robber-girl initially approaches the conversation as part of her own control over the encounter.

The Wood Pigeons provide the news that changes the direction of events. They report that they saw Kay riding in the Snow Queen's carriage and think she may be travelling to Lapland. In the morning, Robber-girl first dismisses what they have said, then turns to the Reindeer, who confirms that he was born and raised in Lapland. She does not herself know how to reach Kay, but she recognizes that the Reindeer can take Gerda toward the place where the Snow Queen has gone.

The Release and the Journey North

Robber-girl's plan depends on her knowledge of the household. She tells Gerda that the men have gone and that her mother stays behind; at noon the mother drinks from a large bottle and then sleeps for a while. Once that opportunity arrives, Robber-girl goes to the Reindeer, teases him about his tether, and then chooses to set him free. She instructs him to carry Gerda to the Snow Queen's castle, having heard enough of Gerda's story to understand where her companion must go.

Her preparations are specific and practical. She lifts Gerda onto the Reindeer's back, ties her on securely, and gives her a cushion, fur boots, and her mother's large mittens to protect her from the cold. Robber-girl keeps the muff she had taken, but makes sure Gerda has other warm clothing. She also fastens two loaves and a ham onto the Reindeer so that Gerda will have food. Then she opens the door, gets the dogs inside, cuts the Reindeer's tether, and sends the pair away with an instruction to take care of the child.

This is not a rescue carried out by force against the robbers; it is an escape made possible by Robber-girl's timing, authority, and knowledge of her mother's routine. The Reindeer carries Gerda through the forest and onward to Lapland, where the provisions are eventually gone. The help is substantial but bounded: Robber-girl can release Gerda and equip her for the journey, but she does not accompany her to the Snow Queen. Later, the Finland woman says that no greater power can be given to Gerda, whose own purity and innocence must carry her forward. In that sequence, Robber-girl's contribution is an indispensable act of assistance, not the means by which Gerda ultimately overcomes the Snow Queen's guards.

Return and Narrative Role

After Gerda and Kay leave the Snow Queen's palace and begin their return, Robber-girl appears again on a horse. She has grown tired of staying at home and is travelling first toward the north, with the intention of trying another part of the world if that does not suit her. The child who once took charge of Gerda's movements is now travelling independently; her restlessness continues, but the reunion finds her welcoming the two children rather than holding either of them captive.

She recognizes Gerda at once and reproaches Kay, in a teasing manner, for having required someone to go to the end of the world to find him. Gerda responds warmly and asks after the Prince and Princess. Robber-girl reports that the tame crow has died and that his mate is widowed; when Gerda and Kay tell her how they were reunited, she answers with a brisk declaration that all is well. She takes both their hands, promises to visit if she passes through their town, and rides away into the wider world.

Robber-girl's role links the Robber Castle episode to the northern journey: the Wood Pigeons reveal a possible destination, the Reindeer confirms it, and she turns that information into a workable escape. Her character changes less through a stated conversion than through a decisive change in what she does with her power. Initially she claims Gerda as a possession and threatens to control her herself; later, she freely gives up the Reindeer, shares provisions and warm clothing, and sends Gerda toward the friend she loves. Her return at the end preserves the same unruly independence while confirming that her brief alliance has become a lasting bond of goodwill.