Murder in a "Christian" Household

Njal’s saga’s setting is uniquely positioned around the Christianization of Iceland. This allows us to see the author's interpretation of how the Icelanders adapted to this fundamental change in their society. Using violence to solve problems (like blood feuds) holds contrast to the modern-day values of Christianity. In the saga, men who have adopted Christianity also hold on to the violent problem-solving methods common to the sagas, like blood feuds. This blog will talk about the interesting contradictions to Christian doctrine that shows up when the Icelanders convert. From revenge killing in the name of God, to planning to kill a family in the same room that your holy objects are in, this saga sees it all.

.           Almost immediately after the switch to Christianity, the saga has a killing in the name of God. Hoskuld’s son, Amundi the Blind, confronts his father’s killer. The killer refuses to offer him compensation for his father’s death. Amundi replies “I don’t know that to be just before God” …” seeing that you struck so close to my heart. I can say this-if I were sound in both my eyes, I would either have compensation for my father or take blood revenge, and may God now settle between us.” Amundi walks out of the booth and turns around to find that his vision has returned to him, he says “Praise be to God, my lord. Now it can be seen what He wants.” Amundi then rushes back into the booth and buries his axe in his father’s killer’s head. Even though he is a Christian he still kills in revenge. In this saga, killing someone isn’t a relatively villainous thing to do but even the real antagonist of the saga converted.

19th-century rendering of the Law Rock in Þingvellir. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Althing

            Mord Valgardsson, the antagonist of the saga, converted to Christianity. Its known to the people of Iceland that Mord is an evil person. He was partially responsible for the killing of Njal’s friend Gunnar. Mord’s father returns home and tells his son that he needs to kill the Njalssons to regain his authority, a classic villainous plan. After this planning Mord says “I wish, father, that you would accept the faith” … “you’re an old man.” Mord’s father replies “I don’t want to.” … “and in fact, I would like you to renounce the faith and see what happens.” Mord’s father then proceeds to break Mord’s holy objects. He dies soon after that Even though Mord is a true villain, he is Christian. He plots to kill a family in the same room he has holy objects in.

                                                  a broken crucifix on white background. 

            The adoption of a new religion is bound to be met with a little friction. This saga is set in a time that allows it to document the relatively odd and Anti-Christian practices of the Icelanders who call themselves Christians. This saga sees men kill others for revenge in the name of God and the antagonist of the saga plots the death of a family in the same room he holds his holy objects in. Controversy and friction experienced when adopting a new religion like Christianity makes sense, but the way these Icelanders make it work is something else.

Condescending Christian Criticism

The Saga of Grettir The Strong takes place around the time of the Christianization of Iceland. The pagan and Christian tension is noted and we see some of the results of that tension in the saga. The negative portrayal of paganism and of those who do not follow Christian doctrine in the death of Glam and the exploits of Thorbjorn and his foster-mother Thurid is a critique on the old Icelandic ways from a Christian perspective.

            It takes Thorbjorn multiple attempts to get Grettir to get off the island. As Gretter’s sentence gets closer and closer to ending he is pressured to expedite his efforts. He turns to his foster-mother, Thurid, who is a known to practice magic. The book introduces her as a woman “who was very old and not considered capable of doing much” … and” had been well versed in magic and knew many secret arts when she was young and people were heathens”. The writing classifies those who are pagan as heathens. On top of that, even though it is recognized that she holds power, she is considered unable to do much. This is almost like the author is saying “all this magic business is great, but its nothing compared to the power of God and my religion.” The book continues on and touches on how paganism is forbidden, and if you are going to practice it you must not do it publicly. The legal punishments are also mentioned in the same paragraph. (173)

“Magic Circle” by John William Waterhouse (1886

            Thorbjorn employs his foster-mother in his mission to kill Grettir. Thurid curses Grettir and sends him an object with curses embedded in it. Her magic would eventually kill Grettir. (185) When it is made public that Thorbjorn used pagan magic to kill Grettir, he is ostracized from many gatherings and can’t even collect the bounty on his head. This is significant considering how many people wanted Grettir dead. The way he is killed is so horrendous to the people that it seems to redeem and distinguish Grettir from his outlawry. The killing also made the practicing of black magic illegal. (190-191) The negative attitude toward paganism throughout this part of the story is obvious and nowhere near subtle. There are other events in the story that are less explicit but still hard to miss.

            Glam is a character who doesn’t follow or care about Christian doctrine. Throughout his employment under Thorhall, nothing bad happened until Christmas Eve. Glam gets angry with the farmer’s wife because she refuses to cook for him. “It is not Christian custom to eat on this day.” Glam replies, “you have all sorts of superstition that I dismiss as worthless.” Glam then forces her to make him food and she warns “I know that you’ll suffer for it today if you go ahead with this evil act.” Sure enough, the next day Glam is found brutally killed. (77-78) This foreshadowing implies that it is Glam’s lack of Christian morals and practice that gets him killed. In addition to the previous point, this fast-acting display of the power of Christianity holds a contrast to the pagan magic that took time and effort to achieve its goal of killing Grettir.

Lord Grettir and Glamhttps://thepostgradchronicles.org/2017/10/29/monsters-and-the-monstrous-in-the-sagas-the-saga-of-grettir-the-strong/ 

            Anti-pagan attitudes can be seen throughout the saga. The killing of Grettir is one of the most obvious and straightforward. This section of the story goes as far to talk about how Iceland is no longer pagan and the consequences of practicing magic. Even though Thorbjorn and Thurid kill Grettir an infamous and widely hated outlaw they are shunned for using magic. The faster acting and more efficient display of Christian power, on the other hand, implies Christian superiority over paganism. This is not only a criticism of traditional Icelandic life from a Christian perspective it’s a condescending Christian criticism.