36 pages • 1-hour read
Burial Rites
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Themes
Family and Abandonment:
Agnes’s life is defined by abandonment from an early age. Her father was unknown and not involved in her life, and her mother soon abandoned her and her brother. She was later taken in by a kind foster mother who she lost to death in childbirth. Her foster father was a cruel man who let her believe she was responsible for the death of his wife and their child before eventually abandoning her to the parish. The loss of her child when he was only a few years old compounded her traumatic experiences and her sense that she was destined to be alone. A hopeful reunion with her half-brother ended when he robbed her and absconded, leaving her alone and vulnerable to Natan’s advances. Her relationship with Natan was marked by betrayal and constant reversals in fortune, as she fought for his attention and affection.
The poverty of Agnes’s life—both emotionally and materially—is contrasted with the other family relationships seen in the story. Toti’s father is not a gentle man, but he is unfailingly honest and gives his son the often blunt push he needs to embrace his responsibilities. He shows deep concern for his son during Toti’s illness. The Jonsson family is shown as deeply connected to and fiercely protective of each other. However, eventually they wind up being as connected to and protective of Agnes as the day of her execution approaches. The irony is that in her last days, Agnes found the loyal, loving family she was denied in the rest of her life, and they are there for her until her very last moment.
Truth and Deception:
The novel suggests that truth is mutable, the shape and meaning of a story depends on who is telling it and their own understanding of what happened. This theme is most clearly shown in the court case that forms the center of the case. Although the trio—Agnes, Sigga and Fridrik—has already been convicted of murder, many questions remain regarding the role each person played in the killings. It is clear that each character in the story has opinion on what happened, an opinion often based on their own preconceptions and prejudices, rather than on facts. For instance, Bjorn Blondal, who favors the young, pretty Sigga, is convinced that she was an innocent pawn. Steina, meanwhile, has already bonded with Agnes and this informs her belief that Agnes could not possibly be guilty.
Deception is a common factor in many other, smaller interactions. The local gossips all have different theories about Agnes, Natan, and others. They spread these around as fact. Meanwhile, Agnes is frequently a victim of deception by people who wish to use her. Her foster father, Bjorn, cruelly deceives her to foist the guilt of her brother’s death upon her. Likewise, Natan is a deceptive man who lies to both Agnes and Sigga as a way of life, attempting to play them against each other.
Justice:
A major concern in Burial Rites is Iceland’s justice system and particular its use of capital punishment. This theme is personified in District Commissioner Bjorn Blondal, the closest thing the novel has to an antagonist. A cold, dispassionate man who approaches the details of the execution with a bureaucratic eye, Blondal epitomizes the impersonal approach to justice that often typifies criminal cases. Agnes’s case is approached with little or no consideration for the fact that she went through a horribly abusive childhood, was involved in an unhealthy and dangerous relationship, and may have been a pawn in a jealous man’s scheme against a rival.
Although the story takes place in the early 19th century, many parallels can be found with today’s justice system and the fact that it favors the privileged in many ways. Sigga’s attractiveness, naivety, and youth means that she receives the most sympathy and support side for an appeal. The older and more ambivalent Agnes is hung out to dry alongside the actual murderer. Fridrik’s side of the story is not heard, but it is mentioned that he attempted to shift the blame onto Agnes in a failed attempt to gain leniency.
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