Kari Lie Dorer

Muus vs. Muus Reading Guide

Muus vs. Muus: The Scandal that Shook Norwegian-America

Author: Bodil Stenseth Editor: Kari Lie Dorer
Translators: Kari Lie Dorer & Torild Homstad
Publisher: Minnesota Historical Society Press
ISBN: 1681342987

Introduction: 

In 1880s Minnesota a remarkable lawsuit posed questions about cultural practices in an immigrant community and the rights of its members as Americans—inspiring a wide-reaching debate about faith and family.

Copublished by the Minnesota Historical Society Press and the Norwegian-American Historical Association on the occasion of St. Olaf College’s sesquicentennial, Muus v. Muus is the American edition of a volume originally published in Norway. Newly translated, this gripping narrative details a prominent nineteenth-century Lutheran couple’s separation, which signaled a cultural shift. Oline Muus was many things: a Norwegian immigrant, a pastor’s wife, a mother, and a valued member of her rural Minnesota congregation. But when she sued her husband to recoup her inheritance, she gained notoriety throughout Norwegian America and beyond. 

In the eyes of the Norwegian Synod she had erred by not bringing her complaint to the congregation first, and by refusing to defer completely to her husband. In her new home of America, the law regarding inheritance was on her side and the campaign of rights for women was gaining ground. Yet in her own congregation Oline Muus was literally not allowed to speak. 

The other half of the story, Pastor Bernt Muus, was acclaimed for his fiery sermons and his tireless recruitment efforts among the faithful, yet also known for his abrasiveness and overweening confidence. This riveting story looks beyond the case of Muus v. Muus to contextualize the arrival of Norwegians in Minnesota, conflicts among various Lutheran conferences, and questions of Americanization—introducing readers to compelling characters and the challenges that come from intertwined lives and conflicting worldviews. 

Section I: Hand in Hand

  1. Section one references two major conflicts in the 1860s, namely the Dakota War and the Civil War. How do each seem to affect the life and perspectives of the newly arrived Norwegian-Americans? What are some other major events going on during this time period that might contribute to these perspectives? (You can investigate the events timeline from ThoughtCo)
  1. Chapter 10, Page 49 uses the metaphor of a hummingbird; “The hummingbird, the world’s smallest bird, has to fly constantly because it can’t walk. On the other hand, it can fly backwards, and sideways and swiftly dive deeply down to flowers to suck their nectar.” How do you think this represents women during this time in society?
  1. What can a reader infer about the day-to-day life of the Muus family? 

  1. How might Jens’s death have impacted the Muus family dynamics? Specifically, how could it have affected Oline’s decision to inquire about her inheritance?
  1. What key cultural differences do we see in this section between Norwegians and Norwegian-Americans? 
  1. How do you think language played a part in cultural differences, expectations, and the isolation of Norwegian-Americans? Think specifically about the quote from Ch. 13: The Mustard Seed of St. Olaf, page 65 “The mother tongue is the language of the heart”.  
  1. How does the congregation’s relationship with Bernt Muus evolve over his time as the Pastor? 
  1. What personality traits have we learned so far about Bernt Muus? Do these qualities conflict with St. Olaf College’s current values and mission statement?
  1. Reflecting on the challenges and events in this first section, how do you imagine the expectations of being a Norwegian-American unfold in the next section?

Section II: Family Trials

  1. After reading about the case and its intricacies, have your opinions of Oline and Bernt shifted from Section I?
  2. How did the congregation’s heavy involvement in the case influence its proceedings and result? How does this compare to a modern view of impartiality in the courts?
  3. Put yourself in the position of Oline Muus during a church hearing. How would you deal with the pressure? Who would you look out for as a threat? Who would you confide in? How does it compare to what she actually chose to do?
  1. Analyze what Oline gained and lost throughout the trial period. Do you think the “leak” from the lawyer turned out in her favor, or was it a breach of privacy that went too far?
  1. Chapter 43: Staging the Scandal compares Oline’s story to that of Nora from Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House (as referenced on page 225). What are the similarities and differences?
  1. How did the public reception of Marcus Thrane’s Holden (or: Be Patient!) in the summer of 1880 (described on page 221) reflect the public attitude toward the Synod and toward the Muus case?
  1. How did the media coverage of the case influence public perception of the situation and of the people involved?

Section III: Disgrace

  1. Why was Bernt given custody of the children after the divorce? Do you suspect that would have happened today?
  1. Why do you think both Oline and Bernt remained a Norwegian citizen and never applied for US citizenship?
  1. Why might Birgitte have returned to live with her mother, after initially siding with her father?
  2. This book was published at the time of the 150th commemoration of St. Olaf College and the 100th anniversary of the Holden Lutheran Church building (the second one that was built). Does that shift your thinking at all in how we celebrate these events?

Further exploration:

Are you interested in where the locations mentioned in the book are located? Check out the Muus vs. Muus Storymap.

This reading guide was drafted by seven St. Olaf students and edited by Kari Lie Dorer. The students are:

Autumn Blackwell (‘24), a Norwegian and Film & Media Studies double major with a Nordic Studies concentration.

Lizzie Gray (‘25), a History and Gender and Sexuality Studies double major with Linguistic Studies and Race and Ethnic Studies concentrations.

Emma Gross (‘25), a Psychology and Norwegian double major with Nordic, Family, and Gender & Sexuality Studies concentrations. 

Kyle Johnston (‘25), a Quantitative Economics and Norwegian double major with concentrations in Nordic Studies and Statistics and Data Science.

Lily Bensen (‘24) a Biology major with a Nordic Studies concentration. 

Aurora Kiser (‘24) a Norwegian major with Gender and Sexuality and Race and Ethnic Studies concentrations.

Josephine Miller (‘24) a Physics major with Statistics and Data Science and Linguistic Studies concentrations.