Njal's Saga

Njal's Saga

Ending the saga with Kari avenging the burning of Njal's house by lashing out against the Burners runs parallel with the rest of the saga. It aligns with everything that the Vikings have been described as. Kari's series of outbursts were not a surprise and more than likely expected in this time period. The ending symbolized how happenings like the Burning were handled.

While most disputes are settled on outside terms and undocumented exchanges, the law played an outstanding part in this saga. The law and all legal regards were more along the lines of money, property, and marriage. In the instance of Gunnar's run in with Hrut to retain Unn's property, all Gunnar needed in a court of law to force Hrut to

surrender the land was a summoning from Hrut. And even though Gunnar's approach to retrieving the summoning was peculiar and somewhat dishonest, it still help up in court and Gunnar ended up winning the suit. It seemed that the courts were set up much in the same matter as modern day courts. in Gunnar's case against Hrut, Gunnar called Hrut to the hearing, swore oath, presented his charges towards Hrut, called upon

witnesses, and recited Hrut's summons to the courthouse. Hrut then had the

opportunity to defend himself and fight for his property. However, the two decided to

settle matters oustide of the court, Gunnar challenged Hrut to a duel, Hrut decided

against fighting and handed over a sum of currency to Gunnar. While there were a lot of court hearings and law suits taking place, it seemed that most disputes were settled either with violence or a money pay out. The courts did not appear to have much power or hold over the society.

I do not believe that Njal had foreseen the ending to the saga as much as he created the ending. Njal was the root of all of his problems, he continued to make under the counter deals and give people risky and dangerous advice on matters that should be left to the court to deal. Not only does fuel the fire by doing this, but he then gives the foolish advice of trapping themselves in the house awaiting their deaths. He obviously thought it was a better idea than fighting a battle in which he was heavily out numbered, however this proved to be a worse fate than dying in battle. He and all others in the house, except a few, were burnt down with the house.

While the Vikings are still very much themselves, there are noticeable conversion efforts in Njal's Saga, particularly near the end. The section I am referring to is the end after the burning of Njal's home. All people involved on both sides of the Burning reach an agreement and call truce, all of course except Kari and Thorgeir, who continue to seek vengeance. This monumental event I believe is the indication of the Viking

conversion to Christianity. I think that this event shows a turning of thought in people and the realization that there are other ways of doing things and more preferable ways of settling disputes.

In the saga Njal is presented as a god-like figure. This man seemed to have

everything going for him, besides the fact that he could not grow facial hair. Everything else in his life seemed to be just about perfect, he was tall, handsome, rich, and

powerful. It was said that Njal was incomparable when it came to dealings of the law and wisdom. The saga also claims that Njal had certain powers of seeing far into the future, he always had a plan for things and had an idea of how things would work out. I believe that in the community he was seen as a great man that any could go to for assistance. He was viewed as an overpoweringly smart