I think we have to realize that the interpreter may be prejudice, as well as not truly know the context in which a statement is made. Also, is this the commentary of one particular saga, or multiple? Differing views by authors of the era?

This all reminds me of a scene from Zombieland:

Columbus: You know there's a place untouched by all this crap?
Tallahassee: Back east, yeah?
Columbus: Yeah. Yeah. You heard the same thing?
Tallahassee: Out west, we hear it's back east. Back east, they hear it's out west. It's all just nonsense. You know, you're like a penguin on the North Pole who hears the South Pole is really nice this time of the year.
Columbus: There are no penguins on the North Pole.
Tallahassee: You wanna feel how hard I can punch?