The Vengance Of The Resentful

It is said that whatever you do to someone, it will come back to you in some way or another. Gunnar´s vengeance in name of Unn is the vivid example of this idea. He claimed the money from Hurt by deceiving him and challenging him to a duel, who had taken it from Unn´s ancestor in a similar way. Destiny was responsible for taking Hrut´s malice and turning back to him.

The idea of “vengeance” is taken in many cultures as a sort of “justice”. In Hammurabi’s Code law was established in a way in which more than a punishment, law is a vengeance against the aggressor. Through history people have acted upon honor and vengance by getting involved in problems that are not their own or simply by wanting to give the last strike to feel some sort of ignorant victory. Similar is the case advised by Njal where a long forged resentment takes characters to fight a dispute over money that changes hands through generations.

“Then Hoskuld spoke: “May you enjoy it the same way you have earned it.”
“We´ll enjoy it greatly, because the claim was a just one, “said Gunnar.”

From the point of view of Hoskuld and Hrut that money is rightfully earned and the way it was taken from them was unacceptable and therefore their enemies should eternally suffer. On the other hand, Gunnar and Unn, with support from Njal, consider their action completely reasonable and necessary. They are simply claiming their own. That’s why this vengative dispute is so objective, because both sides will strive to achieve their own concept of justice.

Vengance makes problems develop in circles where they find no rest until everything is completely destroyed, leaving behind no winners. That’s why justice must be unbiased and democratic, so that the overall benefit is equally distributed and problems are put to end by reason. Vengance takes to resentments, and resentments lead to general loss. Let’s leave our problems behind and forget about pride, only then will we be able to leave satisfied and in peace with ourselves and others.