The Unbreakable Oath

The Unbreakable Oath Oaths are sworn in court and other legal situations to ensure and promote honesty and responsibility for one’s statements and actions. In the short story Hrafnkel’s Saga, Hrafnkel swore an oath that he promised not to break – an oath that he made as a chieftain, a priest, and ultimately, a man. In Iceland, where the saga takes place, oaths are not to be broken or altered. In fact, oral laws are just as established as written laws (Wen). Hrafnkel is not guilty of Einar’s death because he kept a holy oath with Frey, and because there were logical and legal reasons why Einar had to be killed. Without Einar’s careless actions, he would not have faced death. Hrafnkel’s overwhelming pride and love for Frey and Freyfaxi are evident throughout the saga. In the beginning of the Saga, the anonymous author describes that Hrafnkel “loved Frey above all other gods and gave him a half-share in all his best treasures” (36). Hrafnkel has dedicated half of the horse to his most favorite god, Frey – the horse is then considered as a semi-divine figure by Hrafnkel, not just a mere animal. However, Einar completely disregarded Hrafnkel’s faith and disrespected a holy entity, which in itself is a deathly crime.
While the saga does not fully provide an opinion on whether Einar worshipped Frey, Einar’s attitude towards Frey does not have any effect on his actions. In fact, in the journal article “Ethics or Pragmatics; Fate or Chance; Heathen, Christian, or Godless World? (Hrafnkel’s Saga),” author William Sayers states, “Frey was not the principal god in pagan Icelandic worship...” (386). Since Frey was not a principal god, Einar had no obligations to glorify or praise him. However, even if Einar did not worship Frey, Einar still should have respected his employer’s faith for his god. And as a faithful priest, Hrafnkel had to punish Einar for his evident disrespect of Frey – it was his duty, not his personal will, to end Einar’s life.