Skáldskaparmál - 01.01.1997, Page 54

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Marianne Kalinke
The perceptive comment by Gríss on Hallfreðrs reaction to the death of King
Óláfr effectively closes the last chapter of Hallfreðr’s life at the same time that it
evokes its beginning. Gríss’ analysis of Hallfreðr’s behavior is echoed in the
manuscript Stockholm perg. 4to nr. 18 (from around 1300), that contains an
Icelandic redaction of Oddr Snorrason’s Latin saga of King Óláfr Tryggvason.
Here Hallfreðr is characterized as a man “er sva mikit vnne konunge at menn segia
at hann sykðiz fyrir astar sakar við hann ok hellt eigi heilso sinne. eptir er hann
spurðe fra fall konungs.”5
Hallfreðar saga is the story of a man driven by a need to assert himself and a
need to be accepted on his own terms. Hallfreðr’s relationship to King Óláfr may
be interpreted as a consequence of his aborted relationship to his father and
grandfather who more or less force him to leave Iceland and for all practical
purposes ostracize him from the family. When Hallfreðr leaves Iceland at age 20,
his father and grandfather appear in the saga for the last time. Óttarr’s final words
to his son are that he is to go abroad (1:344,11-12), and Hallfreðr’s response is
both bitter and sarcastic:
See ek aast rað yckur við mik. Nv er þat likaz at þit raðit þessu at sinni er þit leggit sva
mikit kapp aa at ek fara utan. (1:344,13-15)
Hallfreðr’s parting words must be read in the context of a previous reference to
paternal love. After Hallfreðr had thrown down his verbal gauntlet with the words
“stæri ek brag,” and ridden off, he was pursued by Már and Ávaldi, Kolfmna’s
father. They capture him, tie him up, and thus disgraced they leave him in the
woods, where he is subsequently found by his father. Óttarr remarks to his son
that his journey had not taken an honorable turn. He informs Hallfreðr that Gríss
is going to get Kolfmna in marriage for having trusted him, Óttarr, in this matter,
and that Hallfreðr is to go abroad to seek his honor and well-being there.
Hallfreðr’s response to his father’s ultimatum puts him in a pitiful light as he
remarks that it is difficult to know who might be loyal to him if even his own
father fails: “Vant er þo at vita hverir mer ero truir ef feðrnir bregdaz” (1:343,11—
12).
Throughout the section concerning the conflict in Iceland, the words ráð/ráða,
signalling the power to make decisions, punctuate the plot. They occur for the
first time after Hallfreðr has rejected Avaldi’s suggestion that he marry Kolfinna.
While Gríss and Ávaldi are inside conducting marital negotiations, a gold-inlaid
spear, the symbol of the prospective bridegroom’s wealth and standing, leans
against the wall outside. This is not lost on Hallfreðr, who arrives for a visit, and
comments that the guests must have come a long way. He goes into Kolfinna’s
quarters and inquires what is going on, but before she has a chance to respond,
he continues:
5 Finnur Jónsson, ed., Saga Ólájs Trygguasonar af Oddr Snorrason munk (Kobenhavn: G.E.C.
Gad, 1932), p. 233:24-27.