After reviewing all of the sagas we've read, I've come to the conclusion that one of the most intriguing characters for me has been King Harald. He is not particuarly involved in any one saga, but it is his presence across many sagas that makes him interesting to me. He is never portrayed as exactly the same character, but is different in each one according to his relationship to the main protagonist of that saga. But if the sagas have had one overall contribution to our understanding of the political aspects of this historical era, I think it is their depiction of this incredibly important king. Harald united all of Norway, and while some historians would rather learn about the daily lives of ordinary people (which the sagas give plenty of insight into), it is also important to understand the leaders of kingdoms who shaped the larger currents of their kingdoms.
I also think another reason I liked King Harald so much was because I know that he was portrayed accurately, despite the many different perspectives. Because each person perceives another person differently according to the circumstances surrounding their meeting. Harald also never seemed larger than life, just wise and strong and adept, if sometimes weak and prone to believing other peoples' gossip. He was a fascinating character to follow all semester throughout the many sagas.
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