Burial Rites depicts a society in which power and strength are valued

more than compassion and love. Discuss

What values underpin the nineteenth century Icelandic society depicted in the
novel? How do these values inform the actions of the various characters?

Context: Nineteenth century Iceland

Patriarchal society
Strength and power are more valued because the 19th Century
Icelandic society is a patriarchal one; this is reflected in the structure of
their society, politically, socially and morally.
A Marxist and Feminist reading both support the notion that power and
strength are more valued that compassion and love.
Strength and power are more valued than compassion and love because of
the harsh economic and environmental conditions in Iceland.
Key words: Power and strength of men is valued - Agnes is punished for
her strength and compassion
The topic suggests that these values are mutually exclusive. Is this always
the case? If certain values seem dominant, why?

The nineteenth century Icelandic society represented in Burial Rites does

endorse power and strength over compassion and love. Hannah Kents historical
novel Burial Rites depicts the severe, intolerant nature of the law and the class
system it serves. Assumption of privilege is a given. The poor and weak are
profoundly disadvantaged and women have little power relative to men. Even
the harsh Icelandic weather breeds a toughness of spirit that does not encourage
gentle behaviour. Nevertheless, while power and strength may dominate in the
broader social context, the text also shows the way in which people can be
changed by hearing the stories of others, producing empathy and understanding
where before there was harshness. Kent feels that the power of stories can
transcend prejudice, bringing comfort and love to even a brutal world.
Kent emphasises that there is little compassion under the law, and violence is
used as an instrument of power. The characters within the story follow the law of
the land closely rather than having allowance of their own experiences be the
judicial voice. In Nineteenth Century Ireland, the country was never allowed a
fully fleshed out judicial system with there being little crime in the country itself.
Blondal, the District Commissioner, as the highest authority in Iceland sees his
duty as absolute, instilling respect for his position, not allowing anyone to go
against his decisions. This, combined with his detached use of power to attain
what he believes to be right also serves to further his lack of regard for human
compassion. The decision he makes regarding Agnes fate is only to subvert
political and spiritual embarrassment. Blondals view of power in the dealing of
law is further exemplified by his criticism of Totis compassionate approach. The
juxtaposition between Toti and Blondal can be described as the difference
between performing justice through the heart and by the book. Agnes
recollection of the treatment she received from the law is not only degrading as
it is detaching, making the murderer lose all meaning of humanity. The way in
which the treatment is noted is through repetition of the words they and you
rather than using her name. This draws attention to her lack of power and
compassion. Often being beaten, Agnes makes note of the guards and their
power through violence rather than law. The words used to describe her imply

her animalistic nature even though she is human, just like any other person. The
compassion is lost upon the law and in place, violence to maintain order is used.

Crime is seen as a threat to the social hierarchy and District Commissioner

Blndal as the highest authority in Iceland considers it his duty instil
respect for authority.
Blndals decisions evince his brutally dispassionate wielding of power,
and are calculated to achieve both emotional and physical pain. Blndal is
determined to send a message to the community to emphasise his power
and political standing by making an example of Agnes rather than
administering justice. It is a political and spiritual embarrassment
(172)
Blndals criticism of Totis compassionate approach You must apply the
Lords word to her as a whip to a hard-mouthed horse (P.170) Analyse the
simile here which implies his view of Christianity
The official documentation included in the extended epigraphs (eg.
chapter 3) and particularly Blondals letters, underscore the
unsympathetic and biased perspective of the law which he represents.
Analyse the verbs used to describe the crimes in the extract from the
trials. Describe the tone of Blndals letters at the beginning of Ch 13 and
the Epilogue
The public approve of this harsh system mocking and belittling the
prisoners even further her smile unlocked the crowds fury as she was
two dead mena knife p35 Margret initially says Agnes deserves no
charity
Agness first person description of her treatment p29 repetition of they:
They leave me in the dark, deny me lightthey bind meThey refuse to
meet my eyes Repetition of you: You, Agnes Magnusdottir, have been
found guiltyYou, Agnes. Agnes. Emphasises exercise of power and lack
of humanity.
Siggas appeal demonstrates vested interest rather than compassion:
while prepared to condemn Agnes, he supports Sigga because she
reminds him of his wife as does Agness conviction Natan had provided
medicine for Blondals wife.
Throughout Burial Rites, Denmark is almost exclusively mentioned in
relation to punitive and arbitrary colonial power. Various accessories to the
murder are transported to and imprisoned in Denmark, while the axe used
to execute Agnes and Fridrik is sent from Copenhagen (p.308). Consider
Agnes execution and the imagery of the men, all dressed in black. They
look like birds of prey (327)
As a convicted felon, Agnes is shown little compassion and has come to
expect harm (p.35). While in custody at Stora-Borg, she is beaten
regularly by the watchman Toti wonders at the force that might have
birthed the bruise on the chin. Consider the similes and metaphors used
to describe Agnes (animal imagery) as she is transported to Kornsa (p.2930). The guards expect Margret to be amused by the fact that Agnes has
been beaten.

Kent critiques the brutal patriarchy of Icelandic society where men have
complete power over women and often abuse this power. The patriarchal society

afflicts the females in Iceland negatively, with an obvious social class system.
Double standards are a part of this patriarchy with feminism being mostly nonexistent. In Nineteenth Century Iceland, all authority figures were male, having
legal power over their female servants. This is further reflected in the decision of
Agnes fate being left over to the men rather than spreading the power equally.
The societal segregation of power division gives the reader a sense of the power
being spread across the population unevenly and as such, unjustly. Another
instance of the patriarchy overpowering women can be seen in Marias
conversation with Agnes, saying that men do as they please, and that they are
all Adams, naming everything under the sun this [pathetic fallacy? Verbal
irony?] goes to show just what men really are in Nineteenth Century Iceland,
being able to do no wrong, like the biblically referenced creation story Adam.
Combined with the misogyny that condemns strong women like Agnes as the
whore, the madwoman, the murderess that lies in the publics heart of fear and
hatred, the general dismissal of female strength in the Icelandic patriarchal
society leads to women being treated as a lower class to men that see the
women that has got a head on [their] shoulders and who believe a thinking
woman cannot be trusted.

The vulnerability of servant women to predation by wealthy farmers, and

the double standards applied to male and female promiscuity are
important themes in Agnes character history. Contrast Natans
promiscuity with Agnes and the public perception good Natan Ketillson
(p.66) Agnes sharp tongue and loose skirts (92)
All authority figures are male. Men have legal power over their female
servants. Sigga cannot marry without permission from authority figures
(p.277-78)
Agnes fate dependent on the decisions and judgements of men
Servant women are sometimes sexually exploited by their masters. Both
Agnes and her mother have had to make compromising choices or risk
their livelihood (p.103, 108, countless badstofas belonging to other men
and their red-eyed wives p.121 Id see him looking at me with a queer
expression (p.186).
Maria told Agnes that men might do as they please, and that they are all
Adams, naming everything under the sun (192) Biblical allusion collides
with the patriarchal system
Sigga and Agnes are both physically threatened by Natan (p.262). Like a
woman, he said. The sea is a nag (36) and she should remember her
place (p.263).
Strong women condemned and labelled They will see the whore, the
madwoman, the murderess (p.29-30). Misogyny lies at the heart of the
publics fear and hatred of Agnes If I was young and simple-minded, do
you think everyone would be pointing the finger at me?...they see Ive got
a head on my shoulders and believe a thinking woman cannot be trusted
(132) Even as a child, Agnes was whipped by her foster father because
she preferred a saga to a prayerand knew the sagas better than
himp70 Her stepmother has to give lessons delivered in whispers p71
Even strong women like Margret believe in their submission : It takes a
man, a good man, to know how to manage a woman who has made her
bed among stones (44)

Kent endorses, though, the transformative power of storytelling to induce

compassion and love, even in people raised in this unforgiving 19 th Century
Icelandic world.

Storytelling the sagas is a part of Icelandic culture where life lessons

are learned
As Margret says to Roslin Nothing is simple likely there is another side
to the story
View of Agnes in Kornsa moves from mythical monster to human through
her evening storytelling usually to Toti, but because of the intimacy of
the badstofa, all listen in
Agnes is able to have her side of the story heard in the badstofa unlike in
the courtroom where they plucked at my words like birdslooking for
guilt like berries on a bush p100 where the men/ravens (motif) would not
listen in spite of the stone her mother left her
Toti becomes more emotionally entwined with her as he hears the
hardship of her life, as does Margret.
The brooch of Laugas symbolises the change that can result from hearing
the story initially, it is evidence of Agness criminal nature and later is
given as a gift from Lauga, the one most resistant to Agnes, to take to the
grave, symbolising love and acceptance
Contrast chapter 2 and chapter 13 - When Agnes arrives at Kornsa,
Margrets charity to the prisoner overrides her hostility: Agnes notes,
Theyre gentle people at Kornsa
By the end, many men join their procession, showing support for Agnes,
one man providing a drink saying Drink it all, and Toti and Margaret view
the execution and legal system very differently from before It is not right
Margret says. Toti reflects that the men surrounding the place of execution
look like birds of prey an image that contrasts with a sense of
necessary justice being carried out.
The family at Kornsa supports Agnes with love before her execution.
Margret gives her clothes and the brooch. Symbolism here? I am right
here Agnes. Youll be right, my girl. My girl (324) Acknowledge the
significance of the impact of their compassion and love symbolism of the
stone
The novel shows there are different kinds of strength. Toti has little
nominal power but the strength of character comes from within and is
informed by his Christian values: He is so kind

Burial Rites depicts a harsh society where the strong exercise power over the
weak and there is little room for kindness or sympathy. However, this is not to
say that these qualities are absent. There are individuals in the text whose
compassion and love is awakened through the power of Agness story, in spite of
the brutality of the context in which they live. This is particularly evident in the
contrast between Agness treatment when she arrives at Kornsa and the
compassionate and loving manner in which they support Agnes as they
accompany her to her execution.