Miller, William Ian. Otkel vs. Gunnar: Chapters 46–56
- Author: Miller, William Ian
- Title: Otkel vs. Gunnar: Chapters 46–56
- Published in: Why Is Your Axe Bloody?: A Reading of Njals Saga
- Place, Publisher: New York: Oxford University Press
- Year: 2014
- Pages: 109-22
- E-text:
- Reference: Miller, William Ian. Why Is Your Axe Bloody?: A Reading of Njals Saga. New York: Oxford University Press, 2014.
- Key words:
Annotation
In this reading of chapters 46-56, Miller attempts at vindicating Hallgerðr for her act of theft from Otkell, arguing that she is operating within the societal norms, and defending her husband’s damaged honor. He discusses the difference between rán and theft, the former being out in the open, the latter being secretive and thus shameful. He then continues to analyse the escalation of the conflict between Otkell and Gunnar, Skamkell‘s part in it, and Gunnar‘s apprehension about his own honor. Miller likens Gunnar’s fighting to a character in a romance, and expresses skepticism over Gunnar’s true reluctance to kill.
Lýsing
See also
References
Chapter 48: lýstur hana kinnhest: “She expects gratitude or a complicit wink for a job well done, and gets a humiliating reprimand instead. She now suffers the aching frustration and attendant rage of having one’s good intentions misinterpreted. “ (p. 112).
Chapter 54: óvaskari maður en aðrir menn: “Perhaps his is a statement of post-coital tristesse, post-adrenaline letdown; he now feels a little confused by all the passion he had just shown—sticking it to these men turned out not quite to entail the pleasure he anticipated or indeed felt it to be in medias res.“ (p. 122).
Links
- Written by: Yoav Tirosh
- Icelandic/English translation:
