Kullervo

Kullervo is an ill-fated character from the Finnish Kalevala epic. Kullervo, son of Kalervo, is the only tragic character in Finnish mythology. Growing up thinking his family was dead after the massacre of his tribe, he also recognized that he was raised by people who hated him and whom he did not trust, knowing that they were his people's murderers; he was raised by the people of Untamo, his enemy. Later, he was sold into slavery and mocked and tormented further. When he finally ran away, he finds his family, only to lose them again, and unknowingly seduces and has sexual relations with his sister, whom he thought dead. When she finds out it was her own brother who seduced her, she commits suicide. Kullervo becomes mad with rage, returns to Untamo and his tribe, exterminates them using his powers, and commits suicide. The story of Kullervo differs from all other folktales in that it describes the effects of child abuse. In the end of the poem the character Väinämöinen especially warns all parents about abusing their children. The theme was used by Filip von Schantz, Robert Kajanus, Jean Sibelius, Grahame Gordon Innes, Armas Launis and Leevi Madetoja in the Finnish culture for poems, music and in literature. An unfinished story by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Story of Kullervo, is based on the tale and was published on 27 August 2015.

The story of Kullervo is laid out in runes (chapters) 31 through 36 of the Kalevala.

Untamo is jealous of his brother Kalervo, and the strife between the brothers is fed by numerous petty disputes. Eventually Untamo's resentment boils into open warfare, and he kills all of Kalervo's tribe save for one pregnant woman named Untamala, who submits to Untamo. Shortly afterwards, Untamala gives birth to a baby boy she names Kullervo.

When Kullervo is three months old, he is heard uttering vows of revenge and destruction on Untamo's tribe. Untamo tries three times to have Kullervo killed (by drowning, fire, and hanging). Each time, the infant Kullervo is saved by his latent magical powers.

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