Lögberg-Heimskringla - 05.02.1993, Side 4

Lögberg-Heimskringla - 05.02.1993, Side 4
4 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 5. febrúar 1993 Woman of the New World: ByAnna Yates IUustrations by Kjartan Gudjónsson Apioneering heroine is rediscov- ered in Guðríður Þorb- jarnardóttir, Vínland settler and mother of the first European bom in America A woman steps out of the shadows: noble, beautiful and devout. Hidden from history for a thousand years, Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir takes, at last, centre stage alongside other Saga- Age pioneers. Bom in Iceland in the lOth centu- ry, Guðríður shows us that courage and a spirit of adventure are no male prerogatives. She may have been the most widely-travelled woman of her time, undertaking one perilous ocean crossing after another. She emigrated with her father to Greenland, and later settled with her husband in Vínland, where she gave birth to the first European child bom in the New World. Once the Icelanders in Vínland had given up on the attempt at settlement, Guðríður and her family sailed via Greenland to Norway and then home to Iceland. Guðríður’s travelling days might have been over, but in later Iife she made one last joumey — a solitary pilgrim- age to Rome — and ended her days as a nun and anchoress. Probably the most widely- travelled woman ofher time, she walked from northem Europe to Rome and back V///////////////////////////////////////////M As the Nordic world commemo- rates the Icelandic discovery and set- tlement of North America by Leifur Eiríksson around AD1000, an all- party committee of the Icelandic par- liament, Alþing, has presented a bill whose aim is to restore Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir to her rightful place as one of Iceland’s most interesting and important historical personages, alongside such colourful figures as her father-in-law Eiríkur the Red, her brother-in-law Leifur Eiríksson and her husband Þorfinnur Karlsefni. Her history is to be taught in schools, and also publicized in tourist literature. While our knowledge of Guðríður is tantalizingly limited, the two sagas in which she makes an appearance are indisputably marked by her presence and her strong character. Guðríður makes an appearance in the Saga of Eiríkur the Red and the Saga of Greenlanders, although her life and character are more fully depicted in the latter. Both saga writ- ers give Guðríður what may be called “rave reviews.” She is introduced in the saga of Eiríkur as “the most beau- tiful of women and an exceptional character in every respect.” She is described with approbation as a kven- skörungur — a “woman of substance” in our terms. In the saga of Greenlanders she is introduced as “a woman of striking appearance, a wise woman, who knew how to conduct herself among strangers,” into which we may read social skills, tact, charm, gregarious- ness — all desirable qualities. She is one of a handful of strong, memorable female characters in saga literature, from pious and powerful Audur the Deep-minded at the Age of the Settlement to tragic Gudrún Osvi- fursdóttir of Laxdæla saga and the vengeful Hallgerður Long-legs in Njáls saga. Guðríður was not only a beauty of strong character: she was also a pious Christian. When asked to assist at a seance with a prophetess, she asked to be excused, on the grounds that she was a Christian. She was, however, the only person present who knew the magical verses of Varðlokur which would call up the spirits. Eventually she was prevailed upon to chant the verses, “so well and beautifully that nobody present had ever heard a love- lier voice.” The prophetess, Þorbjörg, rewarded her with a prophecy: “You will make a most distinguished marriage here in Greenland, but it will not last long, for all your paths lead to Iceland. There you will start a great and eminent fam- ily line and over your progeny there shall shine a bright light.” Whatever future glory awaited her, Guðríður experienced her share of hardship and tragedy. On the first of her many perilous ocean voyages, she saw half her shipmates, including her own foster-parents, die of a fever. The saga of Greenlanders says that her first marriage was to a certain Þórir, who died of a fever in Greenland. She mar- ried Þorsteinn, son of Eiríkur the Red, and set off with him for Vínland, only to be caught in bad weather for weeks on end. Eventually they took refuge in western Greenland at the home of Þorsteinn the Black, and within the year Guðríður was a widow. Þorsteinn too had fallen prey to the deadly fever. The loss of Þorsteinn, dashing all their high hopes for a new life in the New World, was a heavy blow. In both sagas Þorsteinn, when dead, will not lie down. His body rises up from the bier to address his terrified widow. Whether due to supematural causes or simple shock, Guðríður was unnerved. Þorsteinn the Black took her in chaige, offered what comfort he could, and took her home to Brattahlíð, to her father-in-law Eiríkur the Red. She made her home with Eiríkur until her marriage to Þorfinnur Karlsefni, a wealthy Icelander recently arrived from Norway. “There was still the same talk of Vínland voyages, and Karlsefni’s com- pany, including Guðríður, were keen to make the joumey,” says the saga of Greenlanders. Guðríður had clearly regained her spirits and her zest for adventure. Þorfinnur and Guðríður set sail for Vínland with a company of sixty men and five women (according to the saga of Greenlanders) or 140 men (accord- ing to the saga of Eiríkur). They went to Leifur Eiríksson’s existing settle- ment, abandoned a couple of years earlier. They had brought livestock with them, and the country abounded in game and fruits. They felled trees to take back to Greenland, and also began trading with the indigenous people. Like the later settlers, the Norse- men bought furs and skins from the natives in return for paltry gifts: not beads, but a bellyful of milk, a strip of cloth. Sensibly enough, the Norsemen refused to part with any weapons in exchange for goods. In spite of these initial friendly relations, soon the set- tlers were besieged within their pal- isade. The saga of Greenlanders draws up a poignant image of Guðríður, sit- ting by the cradle of her new-bom son, Snorri, as Norsemen and Native Be a Challenge '93 Employer. Hire a Student. Under the Govemment of Canada's summer employment program for students, organizations of all kinds are eligible to apply for funding assistance that supports the creation of summer jobs. Apply now through your local Canada Employment Centre - listed under Employment and Immigration Canada in the grey pages of your telephone book. Become a Challenge '93 employer. 11 s good for students, employers and the /)/ úLujfó 7^ future of Canada. Applicahons must be postmarked no later than March 12,1993 Note: The deadline may vary. Please contact your local Canada Employment Centre for further details. ■ ^ ■ Government of Canada Gouvernement du Canada I ^ ■ Minister of State for Youth Ministre d’État á la Jeunesse Canadai

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