Classics and the Western Canon discussion

World War 1 is raging. The men debate the causes of the war, each coming up with his own theory. Bjartur shows no understanding of the war and flippantly dismisses concern for the suffering it has caused. He wants the war to continue for as long as the price of meat and wool continue to rise. Icelanders call it the “Blessed War” because they profit from it financially as their goods and products are in high demand. Farmers borrow to purchase more land and cattle. The government embarks on public works projects. Roads are built; cars are introduced.

Bjartur has also prospered. He now owns 250 sheep, 2 cows, 3 horses, and employs hired labor. But he remains unchanged. The grandmother is still alive and believes the land is cursed. Newspapers extoll the virtues of peasant life and culture. The co-operatives are flourishing; new political alliances are formed. Bjartur votes for Ingolfur to represent him in Parliament. His credit in the co-operatives increases annually. He orders a headstone for Gunnvor to make amends for misjudging her.

Gvendur is now 17 years old. He looks like Bjartur, shares his love of sheep, but not his love of poetry. He receives a letter from Nonni with $200.00 inviting him to come to America. Bjartur tries to dissuade him, saying he belongs in Summerhouses where he can be free and independent. Gvendur is adamant. He plans to give his 6 ewes to Asta Sollilja since Bjartur refuses to buy them from him. Bjartur asks him to recite two stanzas to Asta Sollijla about a flower’s departure.

Gvendur goes to Fjord to wait for the boat to take him to Reykjavik and then to America. He is welcomed and treated with respect when people know he is heading for America. He visits Asta Sollilja who works for a boat owner and his wife. She has a five-year-old daughter named Bjort. She tells him he will never get away from Bjartur because he is inside you. She rejects Gvendur’s gift of the six ewes because she has never accepted a gift from anyone. And she asks him to tell Bjartur she is engaged to a poet who loves her.

Gvendur meets a flirtatious young girl, goes horse-back riding with her, concludes he has fallen in love with her, and decides to stay in Iceland and abandon his dream of going to America.

Different political groups vie for power and solicit the support of the farmers. Ingolfur Arnarson is highly successful. He wants to improve the conditions of life for the farmer and is chosen as their representative in the Althingi. He builds roads and bridges when he is elected into parliament. The National Bank in Reykjavik is to be liquidated to become a state-controlled agricultural bank that loans money to farmers at low interest. Ingolfur is opposed by the merchants who put up a rival candidate in the elections. The rival factions escalate their promises to win the farmers’ votes. The Fell King leaves the co-operative society and transfers his money to his son-in-law’s bank in Vik. He starts building a big house. Bjartur claims he votes according to his business interests. Bjartur is offered a 40-year loan at favorable rates if he transfers his money to the bank at Vik.

In response to Thorir’s theory that wars are fought so men can rape foreign women and invade their countries, Bjartur comes up with this little gem:

"I should say from my experience of womenfolk that most of them want to be raped, more or less. Maybe they don’t like to hear the truth, but I think I’m pretty near the mark, worse luck."

He goes on to say he sees no distinction between guile and force when it comes to women’s sexual relations. Does this explain why Bjartur is so angry with Asta Sollilja? Does he blame her because he thinks she wanted to be raped?

Bjartur orders a headstone for Gunnvor. Since farming and fishing are good, he wants to make amends to Gunnvor for misunderstanding her. Is Bjartur experiencing a change of heart?

Why does Bjartur want Asta Sollilja to hear a poem he composed about a sad rock whose flower has departed? Is this his way of telling Asta Sollilja he misses her and feels remorse for throwing her out? And why does he want her to know he has erected a headstone for Gunnvor? Is he trying to make amends with Asta?

Asta rejects Gvendur’s gift of the ewes. She says:

"You mustn’t take it in bad part, it isn’t the first time I’ve refused a gift. Last year when I was starving with my little girl in an unheated cellar along the fjord there, the most influential man in the district came to see me one night in secret and said I was his daughter and offered me a lot of money; he offered to provide for Bjort and me as long as we lived. ‘I would rather see my child die,’ said I.” Once more, she gave her cold laugh, then added: “My little girl and I are independent people also, you see; we also are a sovereign state. Bjort and I love freedom just as much are our namesake does. We would rather be free to die than have to accept anyone’s gift.”

Apparently, Asta has learned the identity of her father and has rejected his help. She is as proud and as stubborn as Bjartur. Isn’t it ironic that the only one of the children who sounds exactly like Bjartur is the step-child he threw out of his home?

Tamara wrote: "In response to Thorir’s theory that wars are fought so men can rape foreign women and invade their countries, Bjartur comes up with this little gem:

"I should say from my experience of womenfolk ..."

Actually, I don't think anyone mentioned to Bjartur that Asta was raped, maybe even Asta did not call rape what happened to her. But, based on Bjartur's comments, it would not make any difference. In this, he reacted exactly like I would expect from someone of his time.

Monica wrote: "Actually, I don't think anyone mentioned to Bjartur that Asta was raped, maybe even Asta did not call rape what happened to her..."

Good point, Monica. I think you're right in that Asta not only didn't call it rape, she absolved the teacher of responsibility and took the blame on herself. But, as you said, since Bjartur doesn't distinguish between guile and force in sexual relations, it wouldn't have made any difference. In his mind, women are always to blame.

Bjartur doesn’t seem to feel the loss of a child. He is unperturbed when he sees Helgi’s corpse. And as soon as he realizes Gvendur has made up his mind to leave, he no longer approaches him:

An independent man thinks only of himself and lets others do as they please. He himself had never allowed anyone to talk him over. But from that day forward his son was gone as far as he was concerned. He no longer spoke to him, not even to give him his orders for the day . . .

Is this a key to understanding Bjartur? Does he think independence means being independent of everyone, including his own family? Is that why he never forms a close attachment to any of them except Asta Sollilja?

The only thing I could find is Fell means Mountain. So, I guess Fell King is the equivalent of King of the Mountain i.e. the head of the community.

According to the OED, the use of fell as a noun to mean a hill or mountain is confined to the northwest of England, so I would guess it does not apply in this case.
The more common usage of fell is as an adjective meaning fierce, savage, ruthless, dreadful, terrible. It is related to the noun felon.

Thank you, Donnally.

In Russian translation it is literally 'the Mountain King', and as my quick check suggests the choice of the English translation was dictated by the similarity to the Icelandic name: afaik, it is 'fell' as well.

Alexey wrote: "In Russian translation it is literally 'the Mountain King', and as my quick check suggests the choice of the English translation was dictated by the similarity to the Icelandic name: afaik, it is '..."

I think 'Mountain King' works well in the context of the novel.

The Shepherds Meet chapter describes the Fell King as the only one who had the means to hire capable help. Unlike the rest of the farmers, he had risen to the ranks of middle-class. So he is somebody with status. Others look to him for leadership. Also, he has some sort of official capacity and some degree of authority. In that same chapter, when the men are discussing the condition of their dogs, he says:

And by the way," he added . . . "the Sheriff was asking me at the Thing in spring whether I couldn't suggest some dependable fellow to help with the doctoring of the dogs."

Later, he adds:

"I should think that with a little persuasion I could get the Sheriff to agree to a petty fair wage for this proposed assistant of mine. But at the moment I have no authority to promise anything."

In Portuguese, it was also translated as "King of the Mountain".

Thank you, Monica.

It looks as though I was barking up the wrong tree here. Clearly 'Mountain King' is what was intended.

Donnally wrote: "It looks as though I was barking up the wrong tree here. Clearly 'Mountain King' is what was intended."

Maybe not, Donnally. It seems to be some variations in our translated versions in other aspects. So this may be another term that has different meanings. By the way, let me update my own translation: in Portuguese, it was actually "king of the mountainS", in plural, like he was king of the whole region and not just the mountain where he lived in.