The Shadow of the Gods

“‘Death is a part of life,’ Orka whispered into her son’s ear.”

Orka’s words to Breca, as he hesitates to make his first kill, aren’t merely a lesson in hunting, but a reflection of her worldview. Orka regards the world they live in as dangerous and unforgiving. Vigrið is ruled by blood and violence, something Orka is keenly aware of, but hopes to steel her son against. Meanwhile, Breca’s hesitation speaks to his innocence and compassion, introducing the important motif of children as representing an alternative morality to the adults’ merciless violence (See: Symbols & Motifs).

“This is not our fight. Not our problem.”

Orka knows pressing Guðvarr further would lead to confrontation, and could put her family at risk. Survival, in her world, necessitates a narrow focus on one’s immediate circle, as larger conflicts are dangerous and rarely resolved with any justice. This speaks to the importance of Familial Bonds and Sacrifice in Orka’s values and behavior.

“‘No,’ the grey-beard said, his voice like gravel. ‘He’s one of the Bloodsworn now.’”

Until this point, Varg’s journey was defined by survival, grief, and a solitary quest for justice for his sister. He lived under the shadow of oppression and violence when he was enslaved. Glornir’s rejection of Leif’s claim on Varg is a repudiation of his status as property, forming an important point in Varg’s character arc.