Is It Important?

In Njal’s Saga death is a sign of honor for the killer, which makes them feel more important in society. Gunner gained his honor by defeating the Vikings and killing many others. By following Njal’s advice, he became more honored, and many people appreciated Gunner. “But if you break thus settlement and don’t go abroad, you will be killed in this land, and that will be a terrible thing for your friends to bear.”(pg 122) This shows the fame Gunner had until he killed two people from the same blood line and his destiny could change drastically. Some people, mostly his friends would be affected by Gunner’s death, but this would happen if he doesn’t obey Njal’s advice.
In the vengeances between Hallgerd and Bergthora, many people were killed with no purpose other than both wives being resentful. All those deaths were very costly for Njal and Gunnar, the deaths were paid depending on the owner’s appreciation for that servant. Death had a very high price, and killing was a way of becoming more honorable. Depending on the reason how death was done, the killer was honorable or not, if it had no reason as the ones of the servants and of Otkel’s food and house, it was known for the destruction and the price of it.