Reading response #5

One of the things I first noticed about this saga was the concept of letting your child be reared by another, a topic we’ve discussed in previous classes. On p.440, Einar is told he must find his own work because his father Thorbjorn can no longer support him. At this point, he goes out and finds a job on Hrafnkel’s farm, working and living on his own. I thought it pretty impressive that Einar would take his burden in stride and promptly go out to find work at presumably still a somewhat-young age. I can see this concept of taking on responsibility in response to family need as another timeless idea that can be traced to our culture today. Although in America now it’s not really the norm to send a kid out to find work on their own, if a family is struggling to make ends meet, it’s almost an unspoken understanding that the kid will work for the family business however they can or at least start work elsewhere when they turn 16.

As the story of Einar continued, I was reminded a little of the Greek story of Icarus, when he fell to his death after not heeding the caution of his father to stay away from the sun. Einar didn’t see how anyone would find out about riding the stallion and was pleased with how well the horse rode. Thus he didn’t heed Hrafnkel’s warning and met his death. And, just as Einar didn’t listen to Hrafnkel, neither did Sam listen to anyone who tried to give him advice about seeking vengeance against Hrafnkel. First, Thorbjorn told him to give up the case against Hrafnkel, but Sam became stubborn and took it on as some sort of personal sacrifice. Then, everyone else Sam asked to help him out told him how stupid his mission was, but he still didn’t listen. His final act of thoughtlessness came when he refused to kill Hrafnkel, a move which pretty much ensured his own death.