Miller, William Ian. The Trial of Flosi and the Battle: Chapters 135, 141–5
- Author: Miller, William Ian
- Title: The Trial of Flosi and the Battle: Chapters 135, 141–5
- Published in: Why Is Your Axe Bloody?: A Reading of Njáls Saga
- Place, Publisher: New York: Oxford University Press
- Year: 2014
- Pages: 259-75
- E-text:
- Reference: Miller, William Ian. Why Is Your Axe Bloody?: A Reading of Njáls Saga. New York: Oxford University Press, 2014.
- Key words:
Annotation
The chapter begins with stressing the entertaining value of the saga’s descriptions of practiced law. Miller reacts to other scholars, who argued that Icelandic law in Njála is described as powerless to stop the ensuing violence, and suggests that the author rather painted a complex picture of legal workings. “Tricksterism”, or the manipulation of the law, is inherent to the legal system and is taken into account, but the battle at the Alþingi indicates an institutional failure. Miller then surveys Mörðr and Eyjólfr‘s pleading and indicates consistency and discordances with actual Old Icelandic law. Examining the three law-men Eyjólfr, Mörðr, and Þórhallr, Miller looks at the different legal and character aspects revealed in the text.
Lýsing
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. 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. 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 145: lagði Þórhallur til hans spjótinu: "That was the first killing of the battle, the act of the best lawyer in Iceland. The symbolism is as obvious as out author is likely to make it. But the law has failed in the trail of the Burners not because the problem is one with the law, or because the law is corrupt, or because the law is stupid, but because the problem is political and institutional (or more precisely the absence of institutions) more than it is legal." (p. 264).
Links
- Written by: Yoav Tirosh
- Icelandic/English translation:
