The Emperor of Portugallia (1914) is a heart-warming story of a poor man
of humble means, Jann in Skrolycka, and his limitless love for his daughter
Glory Goldie Sunnycastle.
Jann is a poor man and cannot afford to have an extra mouth to feed. But
when Jann first holds his daughter in his arms, his entire life changes. For
the first time in his life he feels love, and the love he has for his daughter
has no limits.
When Glory Goldie comes of age she cuts off her relationship with her
parents and moves to Stockholm.
Later Jann suspects that she is doing other things than that which he had
hoped for. But his love for her doesn’t fade. She is still the apple of his eye.
But he can’t stand the psychological pain of his daughter not returning home
and becomes beside himself. He begins to live in a dream world where he
believes his daughter to be an empress and he therefore can make himself
emperor of the rare kingdom of Portugallia.
The image of Jann is beautiful and thought provoking. Selma Lagerlöf puts
a special emphasis on the fatherly love that goes beyond all boundaries. And
when Jann simultaneously acquires the ability to see into the future, this
image takes on a hidden and mythical quality.