Tímarit Máls og menningar - 01.02.2004, Side 14

Halldór Killian Laxness
Story ofSalka Valka, The Woman in Pants.
About fifteen years previous a poor woman came to this village,
followed by her illegitimate female child, - a down-and-out-look-
ing person pleading for a job. The populace of the village, being
prudish and narrow-minded, took her for a public woman and the
kids threw stones at her and her little daughter every time they
appeared in the streets. After a devoted courtship, a rascal married
her. No sooner were they married than he began to treat her as a
beast, putting her to hard work by night and day, beating her on
every occasion in the presence of her child. When trying to get in
company with other children, Salka Valka continues to be treated
as an outcast. She is only allowed to look at the other children play.
She notices that when the children are playing „marriage“, the
„husband“ always beats the „wife“. The explanation is that „the
women are to be beaten.“ It is the custom in marriage.
One evening Salka Valka makes up her mind to escape the fate
of women. She procures an old pair of trousers, mends the rents
and puts them on, cuts off her blonde curls. The next day she
appears on the playground clad as a boy. She is ridiculed more
than ever before. But she has taken a positive resolution for the
rest of her life and challenges the boys to fight with her. She
knocks them down one after another and leaves them on the
ground crying.
There is only one she does not match: Arnold, the son of a poor
widower. They keep on fighting like young beasts till they have torn
their clothes in pieces. They stand crying with anger in front of
each other. Then Arnold makes the final attack on her and over-
powers her. He treats her roughly.
In the evening the boy has remorse. He takes all his cheap toys,
among which is his late mother’s necklace, containing a miniature
photograph of himself as a baby, goes over to Salka Valka’s place,
bringing his whole property with him as a present to her. (This is
material for refined display of effects.)
Salka Valka’s mother dies as the result of slavery and bad treat-
ment and the stepfather deserts the child.
12
TMM 2004 • 1