The Unbreakable Bond

The will to continue with a person even in the worst of times has to be great. It isn’t easy to stand with someone and help them when they are in trouble and really need something of you. Njal is always there as an unconditional friend. Even when he knows that Gunnar’s marriage with Hallgerd would make their friendship suffer greatly he stood his ground and remained with his friend. ““Every kind of evil will come from her when she moves east,” said Njal. “She shall never spoil our friendship,” Said Gunnar. “It will come close to that,” said Njal “but you will always make amends for her.”” (p.54) Also Njal new that helping Gunnar achieve all that which he did would have a great cost for all would envy Gunnar and that would never work to their advantage. “Njal said that he was a most valiant man –“And though you have been much tried, you will be tried much more, because many men will envy you.” (p.52)

A very close friendship can bring truble fo being around close to a person or a group of people too much will only make it a matter of time before someone says something inapropiate or something goes wrong. This is proved here: “It was the custom between Gunnar and Njal, because of their close friendship that every winter one of them would invite the other to his home for a winter feast. It was now Gunnar’s turn to be Njal’s guest at the winter feast, and so he had Hallgerd went to Bergthorshvol. Helgi and his wife were no there. Njal welcomed them and they had been there while Helgi and his wife Thorhalla retuned. Bergthora went up to the cross- bench, together with Thorhalla, and spoke to Hallgerd :”you must move aside for this woman.” Hallgerd spoke: “I’ll not move aside for anyone, and I won’t sit in the corner like a cast-off hag.”” (p.57) This is but an example of the problems that appeared due to the marriage of Hallger an Gunnar. Of course Gunnar defended Njal but this truly showed what a great friendship they had. They never allowed anything to stand in their way even when situations and people they love try to separate them they never really argue and defend each other. That I believe is true Friendship.

Today many things are called friendship sadly not many are even close to the bond that Njal and Gunnar had. Although it can be seen as an idealized friendship it is what all should aspire to become. The best part of this friendship is that it proves that friends really show when there are bad times. It is impressive how many of the concepts we consider modern have been around for many years. Not said as explicitly but in a rather subtle way like in this book.