Miller, William Ian. Marriage Formation and Dissolution: Chapters 2–34

• Author: Miller, William Ian
• Title: Marriage Formation and Dissolution: Chapters 2–34
• Published in: Why Is Your Axe Bloody?: A Reading of Njáls Saga
• Place, Publisher: New York: Oxford University Press
• Year: 2014
• Pages: 24-48
• E-text:
• Reference: Miller, William Ian. Why Is Your Axe Bloody?: A Reading of Njáls Saga. New York: Oxford University Press, 2014.

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Annotation

Miller looks at the marriages described in these chapters as study cases for marital law in Iceland. He discusses the legal issues that surrounds Hrútr and Unnr’s marriage agreement and the issues that rise from the divorce case at the alþingi. He then looks at the scene when two children play and recreate the divorce, and its various implications for society, including the violence Hǫskuldr exhibits to one of them. Miller looks at Hallgerðr‘s marriage to Þorvaldr (comparing this with Laxdœla saga‘s Guðrún‘s marriage to another Þorvaldr) as a blatant ‘plundering marriage’ where the immanent divorce is calculated (though not Þorvaldr‘s death), and both sides stand to gain something. In regards to Hallgerðr and Glúmr’s marriage, Miller looks at Þjóstólfr’s low position in Hǫskuldr’s household. Njáll securing marriages for his sons and the importance of the wedding feasts’ descriptions are also discussed.

See also

• Miller, William Ian. Why is Your Axe Bloody?
• Miller, William Ian. Njála’s Unity Problem and the Very Beginning: Chapter 1
• Miller, William Ian. Making a Scene: Chapters 34–5, 48
• Miller, William Ian. Looking Forward: Njal’s Prescience: Chapters 22–3
• Miller, William Ian. Bergthora vs. Hallgerd, Part I. The Theory: Chapters 35–45
• Miller, William Ian. Bergthora vs. Hallgerd, Part II: Some Facts
• Miller, William Ian. Otkel vs. Gunnar: Chapters 46–56
• Miller, William Ian. Gunnar vs. the Thrihyrning People: Chapters 57–66
• Miller, William Ian. The Two Thorgeirs and Death of Gunnar: Chapters 67–77
• Miller, William Ian. Revenge for Gunnar: Chapters 77–81
• Miller, William Ian. The Atlantic Interlude and Hrapp: Chapters 82–9
• Miller, William Ian. Setting up Thrain: Chapters 90–2
• Miller, William Ian. A Tale of Two Hoskulds: Chapters 93–9
• Miller, William Ian. Conversion and the Genius of the Law: Chapters 100–6
• Miller, William Ian. Valgard ‘the Wise’ and Hoskuld’s Blood: Chapters 107–16
• Miller, William Ian. Skarphedin Ascendans, Flosi’s Ninth Nights: Chapters 117–23
• Miller, William Ian. The Burning: Chapters 124–32
• Miller, William Ian. Preparation for the Next Althing: Chapters 132–7
• Miller, William Ian. The Trial of Flosi and the Battle: Chapters 135, 141–5
• Miller, William Ian. Kari and Friends: Chapters 145–55
• Miller, William Ian. How Not to End a Saga, Unless...: Chapters 146–59
• Miller, William Ian. A Conclusion: Justice and Exits

Links

• Written by: Yoav Tirosh
• Icelandic/English translation: