Thorstein the Staff-Struck is a piece of literature produced in the thirteenth century which shows characteristics of a family saga. This story was not referred to as a saga, but as a thattr, which literally means a "thread". The thirteenth century Christian author is poking fun at the characters in this story, and appears to be focusing on the social norms of this society. The author also portrays a pre-Christian pattern, an ethical dilemma, which is unbeknownst to the protagonists and is implied in the narration of this "thread". Thorstein the Staff-Struck shows a society, in which violence, gossip and goading, and internal struggles are the norm.
The cultural norm shown in the society of this story is also gossip and goading. The author first exhibits goading in the horse-fight between Thord and Thorstein's stallions. The crowd begins shouting with excitement as the men take blows at each other's horses and then as Thorvald and Thorhall jeer at Thorstein and give him the nickname Staff-Struck. Thorvald and Thorhall, the brothers of Bjarni, are "both great scandalmongers about any gossip they heard in the district". An incident of gossiping that we see is when Bjarni listens to his brothers through the kitchen wall as they talk about the fact that Bjarni has done nothing to bring about justice against Thorstein for killing his great servant Thord. Gossiping is also portrayed as Bjarni's wife says to him that everyone in the district is talking about how far Bjarni will let Thorstein go before he takes revenge. His wife is also goading him with these words, expecting him to take action after hearing what the people are saying, and then in the morning she realizes that Bjarni is going to fight Thorstein alone and she objects to his decision. When Bjarni shows up to fight Thorstein in single combat, Thorstein asks to go see his father first. His father, Thorarin, goads him by calling him a coward and saying that he'd much rather lose a son than have a coward for one.
Internal struggles are portrayed throughout the story of Thorstein the Staff-Struck. First, Thorstein is in an internal struggle throughout the whole story. He is an even-tempered man who avoids violence at all costs. Every time he kills someone in the story, as Bjarni says to his wife as she is goading him, he "has never killed anyone without good reason." This same comment shows that Bjarni is having his own internal conflict throughout the entire time. This is why he does not act quickly in taking revenge upon Thorstein each time someone of his house is murdered by him. As Bjarni finally gives into the pressures of his wife and the people of the community, he sets off to face and ultimately kill Thorstein. The entire description of the fight displays that neither Bjarni nor Thorstein wants to kill the one another. Bjarni has been described as the most powerful chieftain when it comes to battle; that no one can defeat him, but throughout the whole fight Bjarni makes excuses such as being thirsty and not being used to such hard work as Thorstein is and also complains of his bad luck with his shoestring coming loose. Of course Thorstein does not want to kill him either so he gives into all of his excuses. The fight goes on and Bjarni finally says to Thorstein that "It would be a great mistake in one stroke to throw away good fortune and do wrong." He tells Thorstein that he feels that he'd be fully paid for the loss of his three servants if he would take their place and serve him faithfully. The author is displaying the internal change in Bjarni here as he continues on to say what a remarkable man Thorstein is. Bjarni then goes inside to tell Thorstein's father that he has killed his son and as he does so, Thorarin tries to kill him. Bjarni sees what he is trying to do and stops him. He tells Thorarin that he will get exactly what he deserves: slaves to run the farm while Thorstein comes to live with him at Hof.
Thorstein does take Bjarni's offer and stayed in Bjarni's service for the rest of his life and was considered a man of great courage and integrity. Bjarni's internal struggle was reconciled and he kept his standing and was liked more by the people and became more self-controlled as he grew older. Bjarni became trustworthy and in the last years of his life, he became a devout Christian. Unfortunately, he went to Rome on pilgrimage and died on the journey.
In conclusion, the author of Thorstein the Staff-Struck displays the violence, goading and gossiping, and the internal struggles of the characters in this story. These characteristics are the norm for this society. The author is poking fun at the characters and their ways, but in the end he portrays his Christian values.
