Miller, William Ian. The central feud in Njáls saga

• Author: Miller, William Ian
• Title: The Central Feud in Njáls Saga
• Published in: Sagas of the Icelanders
• Editors: John Tucker
• Place, Publisher: New York and London: Garland Publishing INC.
• Year: 1989
• Pages: 292-322
• E-text:
• Reference: Miller, William Ian. „The Central Feud in Njáls Saga.” Sagas of the

Icelanders. Eds. John Tucker, New York and London: Garland Publishing INC, 1989, pp. 292-322

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• Key words: feud, balance-sheet model, vinátta, liability, power

Annotation

The article, which is an analytic reading of Njáls saga, explores the aspects of the feud between the Sígfussons and the people at Bergþórsváll. Miller suggests that the saga author set up a balance-sheet model of the bloodfeud, which is the main construct in the regard of power and politics competition. The first part of the article deals with this model, and focuses on the feud between Njáll’s and Gunnarr’s household, Þráinn’s liability, Hǫskuldr Njálsson’s death, as well as the role of Skarpheðinn and Njáll’s role as a peacemaker regarding with the fostering of Hǫskuldr Hvítanessgoði. The second part of the article focuses on the power in the district after Gunnarr’s death. In connection Miller brings his thoughts further with the killing of Hǫskuldr Njálsson by Lýtingr and Mǫrðr’s alliance with the Njálssynir.

References

Chapter 41, p. 296, ÍF p. 107: „Mágr þœtti mér þú vera,” segir hon, „ef þú dræpir Þórð leysingjason.” : „Þráinn is obligated to Hallgerðr in her own right silence her daughter by a prior marriage is Þráinn’s wife. She invokes this bond when she asks Þráinn to kill Þórðr.”

Chapter 43, p. 295, ÍF p. 111: „Mikils þótti þeim við þurfa,” segir Skarphéðinn; „en hvar skal þá komit, er vér skulum handa hefja?” : „The killing of Þórðr leysingjason (Freedmanson), fosterfather to the Njálssons, however, is a critical event in the escalation of the feud; his death draws men of the warrior class into the fray. When Skarpheðinn hears of Þórðr’s death he is no longer amused: „but what has to happen before we strike?” His recruitment to the feud will soon follow.”

Chapter 94: „Veit ek, at Skarpheðinn vá hann, ok þurfu vit ekki á þat at minnask, er sætzk hefir á verit ok fullar bœtr hafa fyrir komit”: „The son would be expected to avenge his father and the sagas are full of such examples. This is why Njáll questions Hǫskuldr closely before adopting him. Hǫskuldr gives Njáll the answer he is looking for.” (p. 302, ÍF p. 236-237)

Chapter 145: víg Skarpheðins skyldi jafnt ok víg Hǫskulds Hvítanessgoða: „Community ambivalence is given concrete expression a year after Hǫskuldr’s death when the lives of Skarpheðinn and Hǫskuldr are valued equally and set off against each other.” (p. 311, ÍF p. 413)

Links

• Written by:Viktória Gyönki
• Icelandic/English translation: