UpperAustriain1750.Afishpondreflectstheovercastsky.Adeep,darkforestswallowsthesunlight.Onahilltop,thecorpseofahangedwomanisdisplayed.Asanexample.Awarning.Anomen?ThedeeplyreligiousandhighlysensitiveAgnesregardsthedeadwomanwithpity.Butalsowithlonging:shefeelslikeastrangerintheworldofherhusbandWolf,whomshehasjustmarried.Itisanemotionallycoldworldconsistingofwork,choresandexpectations.Agnesincreasinglywithdrawsintoherself.Herinternalprisonbecomesevermoreoppressive,hermelancholymoreoverwhelming.Soon,heronlywayoutseemstobeashockingactofviolence.