Ordower, Henry. Exploring the Literary Function of Law and Litigation in "Njal's Saga."

• Author: Ordower, Henry
• Title: Exploring the Literary Function of Law and Litigation in "Njal's Saga."
• Published in: Cardozo Studies in Law and Literature 3, 1
• Year: 1991
• Pages: 41-61
• E-text: JSTOR
• Reference: Ordower, Henry. "Exploring the Literary Function of Law and Litigation in "Njal's Saga." Cardozo Studies in Law and Literature 3, 1 (1991): 41-61.

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Annotation

Ordower contends the author of Njáls saga used the law as a literary device, despite whether or not the author fully understood Icelandic law. This ariticle demonstrates how the author uses law to define his characters, e.g. he humanizes Gunnar by exposing the one thing Gunnar is not good at, legal matters. This work exhibits how the author skillfully uses law to advance the plot, using court cases to build tension leaving some characters unsatisfied leading to devastating ends. Ordower argues Njáls saga is the author's critique of Saga Age society and the society of the Sturlunga Age. The author uses the cycle of unsatisfactory compensation and bloody vengeance to bemoan the problems of the legal system within his own age. Ordower concludes Njáls saga reveals a legal system which ultimately leads to vengeance and he suggests it is easy to see how some Icelanders would be willing to trade their dysfunctional democracy for the seemingly concrete rule of law from the Norwegian Crown.

Lýsing

Texta vantar

References

Chapter 13: sem þið hafið stofnað: "It is likely that the author of Njal's Saga knew well that the procedure was improper but chose to deviate for dramatic effect. By permitting Hallgerd to speak the legal engagement formula of her own betrothal to Glum, the author of Njal's Saga discloses the full breadth of her independence, pride, and willfulness." (p. 45)

Chapter 51: Gunnar hafði mikla sæmd af málinu: "As Gunnar wins each battle and each legal skirmish, the reader feels the growing determination of Gunnar's enemies to procure his defeat. The battles in the courtroom complement the battles in the field contributing to the drama of the episode." (p. 50)

Chapter 97: Hann fékk það af öllum: "The wise and noble Njal reveals to us a legal system on the point of collapse. Yet Njal does not eschew legalistic tactics. While the reader tends to abide Njal's manipulations, for they serve virtuous ends, the deteriorating system provides similar opportunities to those less benevolent than Njal. The intention of the author may well be to bring precisely this understanding to his public." (pp. 51-52)

Links

• Written by: Jesse Barber
• Icelandic/English translation: