# Rune XXXVI: Kullerwoinen’s Victory and Death explained — The Kalevala

> Chapter companion for The Kalevala by Elias Lönnrot.

## What happens

Kullervo prepares for battle, rejecting his mother's pleas to stay. He coldly dismisses each family member's fate, then learns one by one that his father, brother, sister, and mother have died. After avenging his family by slaughtering Untamo's people, he returns to an empty home, realizes his family is gone, and in despair, asks his sword if it will drink his blood. The sword affirms, and Kullervo falls upon it, ending his life. Wainamoinen closes with a warning against negligent child-rearing.

## Themes in this chapter

### Revenge and Retribution

Kullervo's entire quest is driven by vengeance against Untamo's people, culminating in total destruction of their villages.

### Fate and Tragedy

Kullervo's life is marked by inescapable doom; his family dies one by one, and he ends his own life in despair, fulfilling a tragic destiny.

### Family and Kinship

The chapter explores Kullervo's cold rejection of family bonds, his mother's unconditional love, and the ultimate emptiness of his home.

## Character check-ins

### Kullervo

The wicked wizard prepares for battle, rejects his family's pleas, avenges his people, and ultimately commits suicide by falling on his sword.

### Wainamoinen

The ancient minstrel learns of Kullervo's death and delivers a moral warning about the dangers of neglecting children.

### Ukko

Kullervo prays to Ukko for a sword of battle, and Ukko grants him his blade of magic powers.

### Untamoinen

Kullervo's enemy; his people are slaughtered and villages burned by Kullervo in revenge.

## Key lines

> Whoso goes to war for nothing, Undertakes a fearful combat, Undertakes a fatal issue; Those that war without a reason Will be slaughtered for their folly, Easy prey to bows and arrows.

Anyone who fights without cause faces a deadly outcome and will be easily killed.

_Kullervo's mother warns him against pointless war._

> Bitterly I'll mourn thy downfall, I would weep if thou shouldst perish, Shouldst thou leave my race forever; I would weep in court or cabin, Sprinkle all these fields with tear-drops, Weep great rivers to the ocean, Weep to melt the snows of Northland, Make the hillocks green with weeping, Weep at morning, weep at evening, Weep three years in bitter sorrow O'er the death of Kullerwoinen!

I will weep endlessly for you if you die, flooding the land with tears for three years.

_Kullervo's mother expresses her undying love and grief at the thought of his death._

> Why should I not drink thy life-blood, Blood of guilty Kullerwoinen, Since I feast upon the worthy, Drink the life-blood of the righteous?

Why wouldn't I drink your blood, guilty Kullervo, when I also drink the blood of the righteous?

_Kullervo's sword answers that it will gladly take his life, as it has taken the lives of the worthy._

> O, ye many unborn nations, Never evil nurse your children, Never give them out to strangers, Never trust them to the foolish! If the child is not well nurtured, Is not rocked and led uprightly, Though he grow to years of manhood, Bear a strong and shapely body, He will never know discretion, Never eat the bread of honor, Never drink the cup of wisdom.

Future generations should never raise children badly or entrust them to fools; a poorly nurtured child will grow up lacking wisdom and honor.

_Wainamoinen's closing moral on the importance of proper child-rearing._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xxxvi-kullerwoinen-s-victory-and-death
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kalevala_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters