The relationship between the people
at Bergthorshvoll and Hlidarendi

Gunnar and Njall were good friends. Some say their friendship is too close to be considered natural. A few have even gone to the lengths of saying that Njall really was a woman! I'm not going to judge him so hard and I'll stick to the ground. The sons of Njall and Bergthora were great heroes. Skarphedinn seems to be a bit of a comedian by nature because he grins a lot.

The women, on the other hand were the worst to deal with. Hallgerdur doesn't like to be thrown into a corner like a neatly wrinkled piece of cloth and Bergthora wants to control the seating arrangement in her own house. When Bergthora uses the woods that both farms have made use of for a long time, Hallgerdur has had enough and starts the killing of drudges that will last for a long time. Finally the sons of Njall kill Sigmundur Lambason and Hallgerdur dares not to kill them.

Gunnar often seeks advise from Njall and he gives him advise. Njall prefers that Gunnar comes to him with all his problems but doesn't seek advise from others. Gunnar doesn't like to kill people but is often forced to do so. Skammkell was for example the cause of all the trouble between Gunnar and Otkell.

There seems to be much honour at stake and Hallgerdur has great pride and Bergthora probably as well. Pride and honour are in fact the reasons for Gunnar leaving this world. If Hallgerdur and Bergthora hadn't been so awfully demanding Njall might have been able to save everybody with his genius and sound judgement.

Written by Sigurjon Vilhjalmsson and translated by Vilborg

---

Forward...
Back...
Homepage...

---