Thorkel Fostri encourages Thorfinn to take action and suggests that his purpose in life is simply to lift his hand, implying that he has the ability to shape his destiny. Thorfinn questions if happiness is life's true goal, to which Thorkel responds that he already has happiness but warns that trying to control or trap it can cause it to vanish. Thorkel emphasizes that resisting one's natural course is unnecessary because it is within one's rights to accept life as it unfolds.

Thorfinn, however, feels resigned to his fate, believing that resistance is futile. He reflects on the inevitability of death and fate, comparing it to being born a king and dying a king, and feeling certain about the ways his life could end. The dialogue reveals a deep contemplation of destiny, free will, and the acceptance of life's unchangeable truths.