Beowulf as an Almost-Hero Essay

Which Beowulf Character Comes to the Closest to your Personal Heros Standard?

Beowulf got ready,

donned his war-gear, indifferent to death;

his mighty, hand-forged, fine-webbed mail

would soon meet with the menace underwater.

It would keep the bone-cage of his body safe

[His helmet] was of beaten gold,

princely headgear hooped and hasped

by a weapon-smith who had worked wonders. . . .

Beowulf( lines 14421452)

Beowulf, greatest of all warriors, not only strong, but also courageous and loyal, this man has served trough decades as the best example of the perfect hero. Always full of strength and indifferent to death Beowulf defeated his enemies fearlessly and without pity. People were thankful to him for saving their lives, kings gave him treasures for his honorable service, and yet he remained humble, knowing he was nothing but a man, and no matter his strength one day or another he might die. However, no matter how many characteristic of the mighty Beowulf is considered to be, in my opinion he is not really that close to be the perfect hero, actually I think he is quite far from heroism.

The Anglo-Saxon novel, Beowulf, is known for being an epic narrative, and what do epic narratives include? Of course, they include heroes. Nevertheless, no matter how much I look into the readings I could find no hero at all. I must admit that for a moment Beowulf came very close to my idea of hero; the reason why I cannot recall Beowulf as the great hero he is considered to be, is that after comparing him with the great villain Grendel, I found not such a big difference between this characters thoughts and actions. Let me guess, you are surprise, and never had you expected me to compare one of literatures greatest idols, with a horrible and terrifying monster, like Grendel, but here come my arguments of why Beowulf actions sometimes clearly resemble Grendels actions.

First I might claim the reasons why Beowulf was very, very close to fit into my heroic category. Beowulf is brave, and by brave I do not mean he fears nothing, but that he faces his fears, that takes greater courage than not fearing anything at all, if there is no fear, then there is no courage. Beowulf also has one of the most important heroic characteristics; he is loyal and honest to his people and king, he thinks the biggest sin one may commit is to betray your own people. We can see this when he accuses Unferth of betraying his people, and he expresses his strong disapproval to this actions:

For I say in sooth, thou son of Ecglaf,

never had Grendel these grim deeds wrought,

monster dire, on thy master dear,

in Heorot such havoc, if heart of thine

were as battle-bold as thy boast is loud!

But he has found no feud will happen;

from sword-clash dread of your Danish clan