Kriemhild Character Analysis

In the famous literary work of the past, The Nibelungenlied, there are 2 notable female characters that stand out the most in the entire story; these being Brunhild and Kriemhild. Kriemhild is the beautiful princess from Worms, fiercely guarded by her 3 older brothers; King Gunther, Gernot and Giselher. Kriemhild is so captivating and marvelous in looks that any male that may enter the room she is present in, falls instantly in love. She eventually marries the knight, Siegfried who she is enchanted by and adores beyond words. Brunhild is not quite as glamorous as her doll-like counterpart. She was the queen of Iceland and although men certainly thought her beautiful as well, she was described more so as a sort of amazon warrior woman. She was powerful and mighty, not at all a “priss”. She married king Gunther and was brought to Worms to live alongside Siegfried and Kriemhild. It was then that Brunhild and Kriemhild relationship started to go sour.
For one thing as
Brunhild was never especially interested in the prospect of marriage or love. She announced in chapter 7 that the only way she is to marry any man is if they win her in an epic, mortal battle; “if he is your lord and you are his liegman, and provided he dares essay my sports (whose rules I shall lay down for him) and proves himself the winner, I shall wed him. Otherwise, if I win, it will cost you all your lives!”(Nibelungenlied, p. 63). By stating this, she is is boldly saying that if there is any man she will wed, it will be the most fabulous, gallant man in the universe, she wants no fool (however, a fool is what she gets). After herself and King Gunther are