Without the Vikings series (Michael Hirst, 2013), many of us would not know the hero Ragnar Lodbrok, nor the Norse gods, or the customs and traditions of the Vikings. For many, the series was a great discovery and aroused interest in this culture.
The series was originally produced for The History Channel, backed by historians and is deeply documented and tells the story of ragnar Lodbrok, a warrior whose curiosity led him to explore new territories and eventually become king.
- As with any audiovisual format.
- Despite historiographical sources.
- There is a certain freedom of creation and.
- Being based on medieval texts.
- The legendary component is more than present.
Ragnar is a fascinating character for several reasons, but the main feature that catches our eye is his curiosity, his willingness to learn and evolve; although this evolution is not always positive.
Like any hero, his figure is mythical, has exceptional value and a nature that borders on immortality.
In the Middle Ages, due to illiteracy, oral transmission was essential. The men recited poems and songs to entertain.
While many have come to this day because copies and manuscripts have been found, the truth is that their circulation was mainly oral; the verse was used because it was an easy way to memorize.
The minstrel have introduced episodes of acts of action, i. e. medieval epics recounting the exploits of a hero, in order to exalt the values and virtues of a people.
The virtues of these heroes were once associated with honor and courage, but they were also marked by the component of faith.
For this reason, medieval historiographic texts mix historical facts with religious or mythological elements.
The Vikings series is rooted in one of the best-known medieval texts in Danish history: the Gesta Danorum, which dates back to the 12th century and is attributed to the historian Saxo Grammaticus, tells the history of Denmark and explains religion. Scandinavians.
The character Ragnar Lodbrok appears in the Gesta Danorum and also in some sagas. The facts about his life are quite uncertain; he claimed to be a descendant of the god Odin, managed to explore several Christian cities, had several women and children who, like his father, performed great feats.
Legend and reality are based on the story of hero Ragnar Lodbrok, in fact it is difficult to date your life because the different sources differ when it comes to remembering the years of your reign.
Professor Rory McTurk, in his book Studies in the Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok and his main Scandinavian analogues, suggests that the ragnar story that has come to us is a combination of the lives of several Vikings.
Leaving aside historiographic sources, we will focus our attention on the character we see reflected in the series, a character who, despite his humble origins, will be able to gain a lot of power.
Ragnar presents a great evolution from the first episode to the last, so following the timeline of the series we can distinguish four steps:
We met a young Ragnar who lives with his wife Lagertha and his children Bjorn and Gyda, he is a farmer, but driven by a desire to meet, wants to explore new worlds.
This will lead him to challenge the established, to disobey Count Haraldson to achieve his goal: to lead an expedition. We have observed some rivalry with his brother Rollo, who in the future will become more pronounced.
During his journey, he arrived in England today and contacted Christianity, initially despised him, but religion eventually aroused his curiosity.
Ragnar, at first, wanted to find a place to enrich himself and get fertile land to cultivate, however, he will meet King Ecbert of Wessex, a character with which he shares curiosity and leadership.
The relationship between Ecbert and Ragnar will be fundamental and, in turn, will unite their fascination with Christian Athelstan. Ragnar will be able to come to power until he became king.
His power increases, but at the same time he loses some fundamental elements of his life: his daughter Gyda dies and he separates from Lagertha.
The vikings’ decisions are strongly conditioned by the soothsayer’s premonitions. Ragnar seems destined to have many children and, as Lagertha cannot have them, finds in Aslaug the ideal companion to fulfill his mission.
Power will begin to corrupt him and his leadership will weaken when, on one of his travels, his hometown is attacked. In addition, the agreement in England failed because it was ecbert’s trap.
Despite the achievements, many expeditions will be marked by tragedies. Ragnar will also come into contact with drugs, resulting in a significant loss of leadership and control over himself.
In his last days we witness a deep unseanctation and acceptance of his destiny: death.
At this point, we witness one of the most fascinating moments in the whole series: the conversation between a dying and drunkEn Ragnar with King Ecbert.
Both the same, as ambitious people who have succeeded but are coming to an end, have one of the most elaborate dialogues in which they discuss their beliefs, assume their destiny and confess their sins.
One of the most interesting problems that develops over time is that of free will. All Vikings turn to the soothsayer to learn about his future.
The soothsayer, a key figure in Viking life, will answer your doubts with unclear and ambiguous phrases that will lead to many interpretations and, in turn, condition the decisions of the characters.
In considering the fortune teller’s statements true, the characters will act accordingly, in order to somehow motivate the fulfillment of prophecies. Ragnar, at first, will accept these prayers; however, over time, some skepticism will awaken in him.
Contact with Christianity will lead Ragnar to doubt, to question his faith. Christianity opens up as a discovery, as a path to knowledge that he so desires.
Ragnar is a curious character and, therefore, it is no wonder that he seeks in religion a way to understand the world and know his own destiny.
In his redemption, this initial curiosity led him to desenchantment and skepticism. Ragnar no longer believes in anything: neither in Christian heaven nor in the Northern Valhalla. This is what we see in the exceptional conversation with Ecbert.
What if there was no God?
Finally, on the way to death, Ragnar maintains another surprising dialogue with the soothsayer about the freedom of his destiny, questioning the veracity of his statements.
Ragnar Lodbrok is a character who, in addition to making us enjoy his exploits, leads us to an epic ending, full of powerful reflections that invite us to doubt, to trace our own destiny.
“Power is always dangerous. It attracts the worst and the best, corrupts it. I never asked for power, is power given only to those who wish to give it up?Ragnar Lodbrok-