What Price Honor?

Honor (on’ er), n., v.,-ored, -or-ing, adj. –n. 1. Honesty, fairness, or integrity in one’s beliefs and actions: a code of honor. 2. a source of credit or distinction: to be an honor to one’s country.3. high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank: to be held in great honor….13. to hold in honor or high respect; revere: to honor one’s ancestors…23. on or upon one’s honor, a. accepting personal responsibility for one’s actions. b. bound by one’s word or good name.

Among the Nine Noble Virtues, which many Asatruar consider rules for living one’s life, honor is the word most often bandied about. After all, we honor our ancestors. We honor the Aesir and the Asynior, the landvaettir, the disir, and the alfar. We speak often of honor, of having honor, of treating one another with honor. Even in those who disdain the “Nine Nobles,” honor is a word often used. Honor means a great deal, it would seem. The above definition of honor has been sharply edited. The full definition spans close to one fourth of a page. A word used this frequently must in and of itself be important to society in general. Is it any wonder, then, that a word of so many meanings holds such importance?

Let us take for example the myth of the binding of Fenrir. It is “Tyr the trustworthy” (Larrington, p. 78) who shows us the way that honor works in this story. We all know how it went. The gods recognized that Fenrir needed to be bound. They tried many fetters but none worked until they persuaded the dwarves to accept the commission. Fenrir himself, suspicious of this new subtle cord, agreed to be bound by it only if someone would place their right hand in his mouth. Tyr was the only one who stepped forward, and he lost his hand at the wolf joint. Many point to this deliberate act of sacrifice as an example of what we should be willing to give up, for the right cause. Let us also take a look at this myth in terms of the honor it represents.

R. I. Page notes in Norse Myths: “They [the gods] tried to trick the wolf (and it is worth noting that treachery and cunning were part of the gods’ moral code). They persuaded him to let himself be fettered, pretending it was a test of his strength to get out: the tougher the chain, the greater the prestige in breaking it.” (Page, p. 16) Thus we have an image of the gods many of us would rather avoid-an image of deceit. Tyr goes far in his actions to dispel that image. He is the one with the courage to tend Fenrir, and he is the one who puts forward his sword-hand. “It is one proof of his [Tyr’s] bravery,” (Sturluson, p. 25) we are told, when Tyr offers up his own hand. Bravery, to be certain, but also this should be seen as an honorable act. Even Loki does not step forward to honor his own progeny but instead allows the wolf to be bound. When Fenrir is bound at last, we learn, “they [the gods] all laughed except for Tyr.” (Sturluson, p. 29)

Why does Tyr not laugh? Some say because he lost his hand. There is another reason, though, one more subtle. Tyr does not laugh because he knows what it is he has done. He has acted with as much honor as he could, yet still he betrayed the wolf he had tended for so long. Hence, Tyr’s sacrifice can be seen in many ways. His integrity in his beliefs and actions led to offering his hand where no one else would. He was an honor to the gods that day, for he alone stood up for what was right and needful. Try was, ever after, held in great honor. He did in fact act upon his honor, bound by his good name.

He also honored Fenrir. Tyr honored the wolf by tending him. He honored the monster by standing by Fenrir. He honored his bonds to Fenrir when he offered up his hand. He knew his actions would be seen as betrayal by the wolf and by others. However, he also honored the greater good.

Tyr in fact admits to what he has done. When being attacked by Loki, who claims “Tyr, you can never deal straight with people” (Larrington, p. 91) he acknowledges the fact, responding “I may have lost a hand, but you’ve lost the famous wolf; evil has come to us both.” (Larrington, p. 91) He goes on to add “it’s not pleasant for the wolf, who must in shackles wait for the twilight of the gods.” (Larrington, p. 91) One interpretation of these words is that Tyr is, himself, taunting Loki with his child’s pain. Another interpretation can only be that Tyr knows what the wolf is going through, and feels guilty for having had his part in it. If we acknowledge this idea, we can only surmise that Tyr knew what he was doing all along. Tyr acted with as much honor as he could, even though it meant betraying one who had been under his protection. Tyr acted with honor, but at what price?

Honor means a great deal. Honor means standing up for what is right and needful, as well as it means standing by one’s allies. Honor means having to make difficult decisions. How many of us swear we will stand together until the end, only to realize there is a larger picture? Tyr upheld his vow and lost his sword hand. This act might have been the most difficult thing to do-for it was an act of betrayal as much as an act of honor. Tyr showed us what the honor of the gods should be, and also illuminated the fact that none of the other gods had as much honor as they ought to. Tyr was brave, yes, but he was also wise-wise enough to let his actions speak volumes. Tyr showed us all the agony and the clarity of honor in a single action. It is a lesson difficult to learn, and harder to truly take in. This is what it means, honor. What price are any of us willing to pay to maintain it?

Works Cited

Page, R. I. Norse Myths. Austin , Texas : University of Texas Press, 1990.

The Poetic Edda. Trans. Carolyne Larrington. Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1996.

Sturluson, Snorri. Edda. Trans. Anthony Faulkes. London : Orion Publishing Group (The Everyman Library), 1987.

Webster’s College Dictionary. New York : Random House, 1992.

-TRK-

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