Summary Of Appendix: Hrafnkel's Saga

“Appendix: Hrafnkel’s Saga” is a story of a man’s pride that leads to his rise and fall and rise again. Hrafnkell is a prideful man who puts himself above the people around him. He names himself the God Freyr’s priest- chieftain and “overlord” (Gordon 203) of everyone in the valley. Hrafnkell is “unjust but able” (203) and his pride and inability to see others as his equals makes him more unjust. The other characters in the story also don’t see themelves as his equals except for Porbjorn who is blinded by his own pride while trying to avenge his son. Even after it is seems Hrafnkell has changed after being humiliated and all his pride taken from him, he gets revenge and resorts back to his old ways. Hrafnkell’s pride is evident in the very

Every person he asks for help doesn’t dare help him. They don’t want to confront Hrafnkell because they know there is no chance in winning. When he asks Samr, he suggests he lay down his pride and ask for his old offer; “We’ll approach Hrafnkell on our bended knees, and find out wheather he will keep to the same offer” (208). By implying they beg even Samr knows that Porbjorn isn’t his equal. Porbjorn is determined by his pride and they finally carry on with the case and they win. Hrafnkell’s pride forces him to see himself as superior: People rushed to Hrafnkell’s booth and told him what was going on. He reached as once – he summoned his men and went to the courts, thinking that he would meet with little resistance. It was his intention to make insignificant people less keen to take out cases against him. He meant to break up the court in front of Samr, and drive him off his case. But now this wasn’t an option. There was such a large crowd of people in front of him that Hrafnkell couldn’t get anywhere near.

He doesn’t want to give up that easy. Samr even chooses things he loves the most, Freyfaxi and his temple, and destroys them. This seems to kill Hrafnkell’s pride so mush he losses faith in his god Freyr. Even though it had seemed Hrafnkell had changed after he became an outlaw and his humiliation, he is proof that pride never really leaves: In my opinion, the killing of Eyvindr and his men does not weigh more heavily than the injury done to me and my men. You sent me into exile, but I’ll content myself with letting you stay at Leikskarlar, and that’ll do as long as you can keep your pride under control. You’ll be my subordinate as long as we both live. It might also be worth bearing in mind, that you’ll come off worse, if there’s any more trouble between us.