Guðmundr som er hovedperson i midtdelen «is not a saga 'hero' in the mould of Egill, Kjartan, or Hǫrðr. In fact, he is not painted in a positive light at all – the saga narrates his social / political / legal wheeling and dealing with other local or northern chieftains, farmers, and slaves and while he often achieves the ends he wants from conflicts, he does not necessarily come out of these episodes with his honour and local standing enhanced.» Ann Park Lanpher peker i sin doktoravhandling på at selv om Guðmundr lykkes med å få Þorkell dømt fredløs, så har ikke dommen noen ødeleggende virkning på Þorkells livsutfoldelse; og «Consequently, Guðmundr’s revenge is ‘robbed of its full impact.’».