A Change, For A Change

Women’s role in Njal’s Saga surprised me. I am use to reading about well educated and respectful women, women who aren’t able to express their opinion and who are seen as inferior. On the contrary, women in this text are seen as strong human beings, just like men. One of the strongest of theses is Njal’s wife. One of the first times wee see her strict and strong attitude is in passage 36, when Atli comes looking for work and she decides to hire him. The reason why she hired him also surprised me. “I’ll give you a chance, provided you do whatever I ask you to- even if I send you to kill someone.” (page. 61) she assumes a somewhat violent role, while Njal even though has violent advice, does not assume a violent role.
The same violence is seen in Gunnar's wife, who kills Njal's servants and isn’t stopped by her husband. Both wives have control over their husbands. Even though Gunnar, and specially Njal may not always agree with what they do, they don’t question their power. Njal feels Gunnars wife will bring misery, and is worried about the arrangement while Gunnar is pretty confident nothing will change. “You will always make amends for her” (pag.54) Njal assures to Gunnar.
Women’s role in history changes with the culture. The background of this text made the women strong and fierce, just as the background of Shakespeare’s texts made women quiet and inferior. I see some of the traits of women in Njal’s saga in Colombian women. Iceland was a very violent place and women were either outspoken or stepped on. The same happens in Colombia. Most women have to assume the “ruler role” in which they have to make the big family decisions. They too have to either be outspoken or stepped upon.