Ancient Companions- Njal’s Saga

Just as I have said that Njal might play Jesus’ role in the Saga, the relationship between him and Gunnar is also very similar to that of the ancient companions, Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Enkidu born in the wild, ferocious and animal-like, and Gilgamesh, the king and ruler of Uruk. Njal leader of his people, wise and powerful, Gunnar, savage and vengeful, with a lust for battle. The relationships of the companions are very similar. Although very different they both make the best of friends. Gunnar has “an aversion to killing,” and Njal tries to avoid it. Enkidu, savage and wild, Gilgamesh, kingly and civilized. But if we look at their relationships more closely, we may begin to see a pattern. Maybe Enkidu was not the hero, maybe he was more of the anti-hero.

When Gilgamesh had brought the monster Humbaba down to its knees, begging for its own life, Enkidu persuaded Gilgamesh to not spare its life. “This Humbaba must die. Kill Humbaba first and his servants after.” Gilgamesh said, “If we touch him the blaze and the glory of light will be put out in confusion, the glory and glamour will vanish , it’s rays will be quenched.” Again Enkidu demanded, “First entrap the bird, and where shall the chicks run then? Afterwards we can search out the glory and the glamour, when the chicks run distracted through the grass.” (The Epic Of Gilgamesh, 83) This eventually lead to Enkidu’s own death as compensation for the death of the guardian. Like this Gunnar, challenged many, with his brutality in battle and his bloodlust. Eventually his enemies planned together and brought him down. His death and the events that followed eventually caused Njal’s burning and his story's end.