Halldór Laxness’s novel taps directly into Iceland’s foundational myth of self-reliance, critically examining it through the character of Bjartur. It is this wide socio-political approach that makes Independent People’s an “epic” work of fiction. Bjartur’s relentless personal quest for autonomy embodies the Icelandic ideals of stoicism, independence, and self-reliance, reflected in the national culture since the Norse settlement of Iceland as a breakaway community, starting in the late 9th century. (Gudmundur Halfdanarson. “From Linguistic Patriotism to Cultural Nationalism: Language and Identity in Iceland.” 2006). After five centuries of political and cultural independence, Iceland fell under Danish rule (1380-1944), during which these earlier centuries became central to Icelanders’ identity as a proud and separate people: This is reflected in Iceland’s continuation of its own distinctive language and literature, as runs through Independent People. By the time Halldór Laxness was writing in the 1930s, Iceland had won home rule from Denmark and would regain full independence in 1944, following a 97%-favorable referendum. The novel’s focus on independence, especially territorial autonomy, reflects this macro-political context and growing momentum through the 1930s. (Matthíasson, Björn et. Al. "Iceland". Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Mar. 2026.)

Bjartur’s story is set during a period of immense economic transformation, as Iceland transitioned from an isolated, subsistence-based agricultural society to a nation integrated into global markets (Larssen, Bjorn. “Iceland 99 years ago.” Bjornlarssen.com, 20 Feb. 2019). Bjartur’s early life is a product of this traditional social structure, as he has worked for 18 years as an indentured laborer under the semi-feudal system called “vistarband,” which obliged all non-landowners to be attached to a farmstead as workers. This created a communal, if hierarchical, means to survive on Iceland’s challenging land, which Bjartur rejects for proud isolation. Although Bjartur views, and at first experiences, change as his path to personal prosperity—an escape from 18 years of “slavery”—the novel pits Bjartur’s traditional ideal of independence against the modern economic forces which are far outside his control. World War I created an unprecedented economic boom for Iceland. As a neutral nation, it profited immensely from the soaring European demand for its exports, particularly mutton and wool. This period, which Laxness depicts as the “Years of Prosperity,” temporarily aligns Bjartur’s rigid ideal of self-sufficiency with the opportunities of a market economy, allowing him to accumulate wealth. His downfall comes with the inevitable bust that followed the war and deepened during the Great Depression. Bjartur’s refusal to cooperate with others or adapt to changing circumstances leaves him vulnerable to market forces he cannot control.

Laxness also explores the tension between Bjartur’s sense of his own rights and autonomy and that of others, especially of women, whom he excludes from this vision, saying: “The man who lives on his own land is an independent man. He is his own master” (13). Consistently, Bjartur’s fierce assertion of independence encroaches on others’ choices and experiences, as his role as “master” necessitates the subservience of others. The novel traces the harm this does to both his wives and his daughter, who are obliged to submit to bullying, violence, starvation, illness, and death as a result of his stubbornness.

Through Bjartur’s tragic arc, Laxness suggests that the romanticized, absolute self-reliance of Iceland’s past is a destructive and untenable ideal in the interconnected modern world.