Margarita, or Mistress Ekeby
While Margarita owns her estate, there is some kind of control. As such, we can see the Mistress as representing order. When the Mistress leaves the estate, everything crumbles and descends to ruin and chaos.
The Ekeby Estate
Mistress Ekeby's estate represents power, as whoever owns it seemingly has control. At first, the estate belongs to Margarita, the legitimate heir and while she lives there is some kind of order. When the estate is wrongfully taken from her, it descends into complete chaos and decline, suggesting that there is something morally wrong about this transaction of ownership.
Gösta Berling
The eponymous protagonist of this novel symbolizes the capacity in people to change from someone immoral to someone ultimately good. At the beginning of the novel, Gösta is an irresponsible and defrocked priest, living a life of chaos and immorality after taking over the Ekeby estate. However, he undergoes a transformation and ultimately shows kindness towards Ekeby.
Alcohol
Alcohol is frequently seen in the text and is shown to have disastrous consequences. For example, this is what led to Berling's rejection from the church, and also fuels his anger.
The Cavaliers
The Cavaliers who assist Berling in taking over the estate represent complete chaos and disorder. They allow the estate to become ruined, due to their greed and laziness.
