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 Njáls 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 Njáls Saga. New York: Oxford University Press, 2014.

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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

Í kaflanum gerir Miller tilraun til að réttlæta matarþjófnað Hallgerðar, hann segir að þjófnaðurinn hafi verið hefnd fyrir mannorðsbrot gegn Gunnari og með því haldi hún sig innan viðmiða samfélagsins. Hann fjallar einnig um muninn á ráni og þjófnaði og segir að hið fyrrnefnda sé opinber verknaður, framin í augsýn allra en hið síðarnefnda framin á laun og því skammarlegur. Hann heldur áfram að greina stigmagnandi í deilu Gunnars og Otkels, hluta Skammkels í þeim og kvíða Gunnars gagnvart mannorði sínu. Miller líkir bardögum Gunnars við bardaga í riddarasögu og dregur í efa að hann hafi verið tregur til að drepa.

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. Marriage Formation and Dissolution: Chapters 2–34
• 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. 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

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 translation: Andri M. Kristjánsson