Vinland Saga is beyond any shadow of a doubt, one of the biggest phenomena in the anime industry over the past decade. It’s a show about loss, regret, battle, and humanity’s lowest lows as well as its highest highs.
Thorfinn experiences every one of these aspects deeply over the course of his life, and we’re here to discuss his journey to acceptance and becoming the “True Warrior” his father spoke of. More specifically, how his style of combat grew with him, and the significance it holds in reflecting his very character itself.
From Child to Warrior: The Origin of Thorfinn’s Daggers
As a child, Thorfinn was raised in an environment where war and battle were romanticized by his peers and seniors constantly. Being a “warrior” was everything to them, even though his village had never experienced anything of the sort.
Because of this, Thorfinn craved the same, and despite not knowing it, his father being Thors the Troll certainly gave him a head start in terms of potential. Something which was only emphasized when he’d practically be praised and acknowledged for accidentally breaking a peer’s arm while “playing”.
All that to say, Thorfinn WANTED to be a frontline fighter like the ones in the stories.
Unfortunately for him, his reckless enthusiasm in stowing aboard his father’s boat would end up being one of the key factors in the Troll of Jom’s unfair and dishonorable murder. From there, life for Thorfinn was a blur of death, rage, combat and honing himself as a weapon of pure chaos for many years.
This is where we see Thorfinn’s personality being reflected in the weapons he wields, as using them to avenge his father becomes his sole purpose in life.
He first takes up a single dagger while starving in the woods, out of desperation and his unwillingness to give up on avenging Thors. He throws himself into training himself and becoming capable of taking on Askeladd, refusing to bend the knee. This moment, perhaps even more so than Thors’s death, is what symbolizes Thorfinn’s initial descent into the endless cycle of violence.
Dual Daggers and the Path of Vengeance
As Thorfinn grows and becomes more entrenched in Askeladd’s mercenary band, he evolves from a single dagger to dual-wielding – a style that emphasizes his unyielding commitment to revenge.
The shift to dual daggers isn’t just a practical choice; it’s a reflection of the increasing intensity with which he pursues vengeance. These two blades become an extension of his fury and purpose, allowing him to strike with speed, precision, and ferocity, mirroring his relentless resolve.
With these daggers, Thorfinn perfects his agile, close-combat fighting style, defined by quick, calculated movements that let him get in close, exploit weaknesses, and escape just as swiftly. Every duel with Askeladd, every raid with the Vikings, serves as both training and fuel for his hatred, honing him into a nearly unstoppable force.
The dual daggers embody his dual motivations – survival and revenge – and as he becomes one of the most feared fighters in the Viking ranks, they are a reminder that his true battle is always against the man who took his father. Each swing is not just an attack on an enemy but a rehearsal for his ultimate goal.
Thorfinn's entire style is built on precision, his movements merciless and direct, with no wasted motion, much like his single-minded drive for retribution.
Why Thorfinn Chooses Daggers Over Swords
Thorfinn’s preference for daggers over traditional Viking weapons like swords is no accident, at least from a writing perspective. It speaks to his character, both as a fighter and as a son carrying the burden of his father’s legacy.
Unlike swords, which are broad and signify a more conventional approach to warfare, Thorfinn’s daggers allow him to rely on dexterity over brute force. It’s a style that reflects his outsider status within the Viking world – he doesn’t seek to conquer lands or lead men. His motives are deeply personal, and his weapon of choice shows it.
While not necessarily a conscious part of Thorfinn’s own choice to wield the short blades, it’s a very conscious choice in the writing of his path and the themes surrounding him.
Daggers are intimate weapons, demanding close range and placing the wielder in direct danger – much like Thorfinn, who willingly puts himself in harm’s way to get closer to his goal, living amongst his father’s killers for years for a chance at revenge.
In rejecting these traditional Viking arms, Thorfinn makes a subtle stand against the world that took his father. The daggers serve as a reminder of his origins, as he carves his path through battles for Askeladd, each fight bringing him one step closer to his longed-for vengeance.
From Weapons to Willpower: Thorfinn’s Journey to Nonviolence
Following years of bloodshed, Thorfinn’s life takes a drastic turn after Askeladd’s sudden death. Stripped of his purpose, he enters a period of soul-searching that eventually leads him to reject violence altogether.
No longer wielding his daggers, Thorfinn’s “weapons” become his words and his actions as he tries to atone for the lives he took and the years he spent embroiled in his own hatred. This shift marks a new chapter in his journey – one where his identity is no longer tied to the blade.
Thorfinn’s vow of nonviolence is not just a rejection of weapons; it’s a rejection of the Viking ideals he once embraced. In defending himself without killing, even in dire situations, Thorfinn forges a new kind of strength.
He learns to stand his ground without resorting to the violence that once defined him. His hands, once the instruments of death, now work toward building a peaceful life. It’s a profound transformation, symbolizing his commitment to a path his father would have approved of – the path of a “True Warrior”, where being a warrior doesn’t require bloodshed.
The Symbolism of Thorfinn’s Daggers in His Quest for Redemption
In hindsight, Thorfinn’s daggers are more than tools of battle; they are symbols of his internal struggle and evolution. Initially, they are his link to vengeance, embodying the trauma and rage he carries. But as he abandons them, they become a part of his past, a reminder of the life he wishes to leave behind.
The daggers he once used so fervently now stand as relics of a boy consumed by anger, contrasting sharply with the man striving for peace.
By forsaking his weapons, Thorfinn reclaims control over his life. The daggers he clung to so desperately are left behind, along with the vengeance and violence that defined him. They serve as a measure of how far he’s come – from a weapon of destruction to a builder of hope.
This transformation encapsulates Thorfinn’s journey to acceptance and redemption, symbolizing that the strength of a true warrior lies not in the sharpness of his blade, but in his resolve to bring peace.
