"The hovels of the peasants and farmers had begun to repel him, with their cramped rooms constructed of turf.’’
In the first chapter, the commissioner visits the home where Agnes will be sent to spend her last days on earth. The first thing the commissioner notices is how small the house was in comparison with his. The mere image of the house and of the dirty girls who served him with what they had at hand made him feel repulsed. This shows just how important class was for the people living in that society and how those who had more money and power had the tendency to look down and those who had a tough life.
“I will save her,” he whispered.
Tóti was considered by many as not being experienced enough to help Agnes during her last days on earth. Tóti himself did not believe that he was capable of fulfilling the role he was given but he accepted the mission nonetheless. His determination to save Agnes made him reluctant to give in when Agnes became too much to bear and that only made him want even more to help her. This shows that Tóti is an extraordinary character, interested in the well-being of those who need guidance in life.
''I could have wept from the relief of light.''
Agnes was treated with cruelly during the time she was locked up and when she was finally allowed to go outside, the sight of nature impressed her so much that she almost started crying. Agnes thus began appreciating the little things in life, such as the sight of the clear blue sky or fresh air, something she was deprived of during the time she was locked up. The way she was treated is described as being inhumane. That however only shows how prejudiced the people were and how they were not ready to listen to her side of the story. They were however content with just assuming the worst, without bothering to check if what they believed was true or not.
"They said that I stole the breath from men, and now they must steal mine"
This quote shows how Agnes is aware of the hypocrisy of the justice system in the 1820s, a time when religion heavily influenced legal proceedings. Yet Agnes highlights how despite this influence, the way religion is practiced deviates from the biblical morals and teachings as people have manipulated religious beliefs to serve their interests. Agnes depicts the contradiction in their beliefs by empathizing that her life being taken unwillingly is seen as justice while the untimely deaths of Natan and Pétur are seen as murder.
