Beowulf's Character Development Essay

Beowulfs journey through the epic poem that bears his name parallels the course of a normal humans life. Beowulfs story begins with him in late adolescence or early adulthood, approximately eighteen years old. Specifically, it details Beowulfs conscription of an elite band of warriors to go slay an evil monster terrorizing the mead hall of a Danish King. The Beowulf introduced here will change greatly as time progresses in the poem, and by the end the hero presented will almost not resemble the one presented in the opening of the poem.

The traits of a male of approximately eighteen years today can vary widely today, from an erudite but not physically able scholar, to a titan of athleticism destined to join military Special Forces. The general state of society, and the rules associated with it, in Beowulfs time would slice the selection of traits that would be present in a young man, furthermore Beowulf is a prince. This narrows the qualities he might have even further, and what we are presented with in the epic is a psyche that is almost purely a young, reckless warrior. After all, Beowulf plans on defeating an infamous monster that terrorized an entire people for more than ten years. Who else but a very confident and slightly foolhardy brave warrior would attempt such a feat? This same mindset, and even a similar goal, can be seen in todays youth just emerging from their nearly two decades of familial suckling. The modern-day eighteen year old simply has different monsters to slay, ones that are no longer physical. The monsters of today take shape in the beauracracy that has evolved around all aspects of the world, from college applications to starting a home business, paperwork pervades everything in the modern world. These are examples from modern times, but the challenge that extends to young people who wish to shape their world has remained constant throughout history.

Beowulf remains the same in his psyche consistently from the intro up until after he comes up from the lair of Grendels mother. In Beowulfs fight with the Swamp-Hag, the mighty hero finds himself outmatched and losing, and is only able to win when divine help in the form of a magic sword appearing is granted unto him. After the experience of finding a foe he could not defeat by his own strength Beowulfs attitude towards life changes. Suddenly he is not so reckless, having faced something he could not overcome. This one event in Beowulfs life signifies his transition entirely from adolescent into adult, with all the associated changes in thinking that go along with such a change. Most young adults will face this change also, a point at which youthful enthusiasm becomes tempered by the facts of reality.

The middle section of Beowulf, which would detail the middle age of the hero, has been lost. Where our record picks up, Beowulf has become a respected ruler who has ruled his kingdom well and been involved in many battles, but is far advanced in age. The Beowulf presented here has matured very much from the person presented at the beginning of the epic. Beowulf as a ruler is very wise, as evidenced by the high regard all his subjects hold for him. The only remnant of the earlier Beowulf that seems to remain is a willingness to face monsters. When a dragon starts to attack Beowulfs domain, he immediately readies himself to face it, but this encounter is different from his earlier ones with Grendel and the Swamp-Hag. Beowulf is no longer confident in his invincibility, but instead has a sense of his own demise. This is likewise evidenced in many more distinguished members of todays society, although in todays society perhaps the sense of foreboding mortality is even more present. Due to the fact that most elderly know they are only alive because of the various and manifold drugs they ingest regularly. At the end of the epic, the dragon kills Beowulf, leaving behind only a tarnished and old treasure to be distributed to his people.

The final message that parallels life is found in this result, instead of the things Beowulf had earned being distributed among his people, the young man designated his heir makes a monument with the horde. The message in this is cold, all that old men have earned in their lives, despite what they wish, will be lost when they die. This conclusion goes hand in hand with the conclusion of life, leaving a reader with a sense of fatalism and futility about life.