ARNLJOT

ARNLJOT is the drama of a man who, feeling himself to be spiritually and physically superior to his common and small-minded surroundings, asserts his personal independence so far that he brings himself into violent conflict not only with the community but also with the psychological and broadly human principles on which the community is founded. He does not realise that these basic principles are active within himself as dim instincts, which he has not yet begun to comprehend, and he assaults a part of his own ego, when in his struggle for individual freedom he suppresses all dormant social and altruistic instincts in the human soul - the longing for one's home district, for family life, relatives, friends, and so on. However, during his long-drawn-out resistance these instincts grow increasingly in strength; the tension between them and the conscious individualistic struggle becomes stronger and stronger without being understood in his soul, which is plunged into ever-increasing suffering. Finally the barrier of ignorance is broken; something happens which makes this outsider discover his own “innermost thoughts“, the instincts which have been held back break through violently and cause an upheaval which threatens to wreck his peace of mind. Subdued, and in blank despair, he comes out of the crisis; his own life is no longer of value, the only thing he can do is sacrifice it to another, someone who is worthy to receive such a sacrifice. He finds such a man, who since his youth has caught his imagination as a shining example. However, when his sacrifice is about to be made and the hour of death is at hand, the clearness which comes with death clarifies his outlook on life; he understands now that his tragedy was that he had not been capable of bringing the counterinstincts in his being into an harmonious co-existence, he had not “aimed high enough to be able to see“ the deeper coherence in existence, but that anyway he has been moving in the right direction. Convinced that this faith in himself has been the highest and best of his qualities he dies reconciled with the woman he has loved and with a greeting to his home district to which he has always been attached with a romantic and burning passion - although he has never understood thatthis passion was the strongest and most characteristic expression of that part of his being, which he had assaulted during his long resistance.

To dramatise the destiny of such a person the author has chosen the historical personage of Arnljot Gelline, who makes a fleeting but captivating appearance in Snorre Sturlasson's Olav den heliges saga (The Saga of St. Olav). Here it is related how Arnljot, a man from Jämtland, who like many other shortly before the Battle of Stiklestad came to Olav Haraldsson, the King of Norway (later St. Olav) and asked to be hallowed to fight for him. When asked about his faith he replied that up to then he had only believed in himself, his strength and his courage, but he now wanted to rely on the King. He adopted the Christian faith and was the first to fall in battle. If, on the one hand, the creator of the music drama of Arnljot in his music wished to put the theatrical presentation on a purely esthetic plane, a cultural experience free of actual fact and reality, he sought, on the other hand, with his libretto to create with as much psychological faithfulness to reality as possible that part of the destiny of Arnljotwhich Snorre Sturlasson does not record or at least only hints at. The main happenings prior to the dramaand other external events are as follows: -

On his mother's side Arnljot was related to a ruling family, who according to Snorre regarded the first chieftain of Jämtland, Ketil Jämte, among their ancestors. However, the standing of the family declined, particularly after Arnljot's mother, Unn Hallbrandsdotter, married a rich upstart, a merchant known as Sunvis Bjarm of Gällö. It was through his wealth that she hoped to restore the position of the family. It had also been agreed with Östmund, the Gode* of Frösö, who had borrowed from Sunvis, that Arnljot by way of compensation should have Östmund's only child Gunhild, as a wife and succeed him as Gode. However, before this happens the family suffers other misfortunes: the eldest son, Vikar, enters the service of King Olav Tryggvasson and falls with him at the Battle of Svolder, a daughter becomes the wife of a man who later is declared an outlaw after having killed somebody, Sunvis himself dies, but among the people there still live the taunts and songs resulting from his marriage.

Arnljot grows up; his love for Gunhild from his early youth unites him with his intended bride, but at the same time he hears about the heroic deeds of Olav Haraldsson, the King of Norway. Arnljot longs for adventure and to participate in such heroic deeds. He asks Gunhild to wait three years for him and leaves his home district. However, unlike many other from Jämtland, who at this time went to Miklagård in Byzantium via Russia to serve in the Emperor's bodyguard, he prefers to live unattached as a free Viking. Unfavourable conditions delay his return by two years. He sends a message home, but the messenger, Gudfast, is his rival. By telling lies about the life Arnljot has been leading in the south, Gudfast on arriving home manages to turn Gunhild against her betrothed and marries her himself.

 

Gunhild: "None is so kingly as he"

Arnljot: "In this land I want to live"

 

The family-proud Unn now only lives for revenge, redress, and power; as the plans for a marriage to the daughter of the Frösö Chieftain have miscarried, Unn adopts other and ruthless methods. Jämtland at this time was in a rather unstable political position. Originally independent, it had been compelled to pay tribute now to the King of Svithiod (Sweden), now to the King of Norway, and at times to both. A strong nationalistic body within the country is dissatisfied with these conditions. The leader of this body, Sigurd of Slandrom, is related to Unn. With him she lays the following plan: Arnljot is expected to return for the Spring Ting**. At this gathering a final decision is to be given to the envoys of the King of Norway who have come to demand taxes and the submission of the people of Jämtland. The plan of Unn and Sigurd requires that Arnljot, because of his lawful right to the chieftainship, shall have himself acclaimed as the Chieftain of the whole of Jämtland and shall declare the country independent and free as in olden times.

Anders Andersson, Yngve Dillner and Åke Sörenstam as
"Sigurd of Slandrom", "King Olav" and "Östmund Gode of Frösö".

 

Gunhild Hjelm as
"Gunhild"

Viola Johansson as
"Unn"

Maj-Britt Westerberg as
"Vaino"

Haldo Högberg as
"Ubma"

 

* Gode = a chieftain who is also responsible for the temple of a pagan god, in this case Fröj.
** Ting = a meeting of chieftains and representatives for administrative and judicial purpose, similar to the Old English Hundred.

 

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