If a hero is defined by that of his brawn, then Beowulf takes the cake for most heroic. Time and time again, the Geatman demonstrates his physical power and worth through extraordinary feats. For example, he defeats the terrible Grendel single-handedly, ripping off the beast’s entire arm without the use of weaponry or protection. “The fiend soon found he was facing a foe whose hand-grip was harder than any other he ever had met in all Middle-Earth” (Beowulf, p.1581). That’s a pretty intense physical feat, wouldn’
t you say? After combating Grendel, he then faces the brooding she-wolf, Grendel’s mother, inside her underwater cavern. (Though I’m not quite sure how he managed to hold his breath for so long while searching for the water-dwelling mistress? Super-human lungs, perhaps? Gills? SCUBA?) At any rate, seeking out and destroying this murderess was another incredible physical accomplishment. During his later years, Beowulf even battles a menacing dragon, alongside Wiglaf. It’s a rarity to see an elderly gentleman face a crazed monster. Though wrinkled with age and gray of hair, Beowulf sets out to destroy this new threat before it demolishes his people. Sadly, while killing it, the dragon inflicts a severely venomous neck bite upon the Geat, which ultimately kills Beowulf. Despite losing his life, Beowulf proves his heroism even in his final moments of life. (Which is saying something, because most of the elderly people I know relax in retirement, whereas Beowulf exerted much energy and his life one last time, in order to save his kingdom.) It is just unfortunate that he had to die to save his people because in this hero’s absence, the Geats are left vulnerable and unprotected. As much as I admire Wiglaf’s bravery during the dragon battle, does he really have what it takes to protect the people of Geatland without Beowulf to guide him?
Another quality that sets Beowulf apart from most heroes is his seeming faultlessness. Unlike Gilgamesh, Beowulf does not fear death and therefore does not search for immortality. To contrast Odysseus, Beowulf does not succumb to the advances of goddesses/beautiful women (the movie doesn’t count) or receive divine aid from a higher power whenever he’s in trouble because Beowulf fights his own battles. Sure, he utilized an incredibly useful sword forged by giants while in Grendel’s mother’s lair, but I see this as a fortunate happenstance. He didn’t beg the gods for assistance. In relation to Rama, Beowulf does not desert his loved ones (Danes, Geats, warriors) as Rama initially did with Sita. Beowulf is not a death-fearing pansy. Beowulf is not a sex-crazed manipulator. Beowulf is not a “holier than thou” type figure. When examining faults, none of the aforementioned men are up to snuff when compared to Beowulf. The only other truly selfless hero or heroine in this case would be Sita, particularly in Sita Sings the Blues. At the end of her tale, she completely surrenders herself to Mother Earth. Beowulf surrenders himself to death at the bite of the dragon. There was no whining along his hero quest. Beowulf is a “let’s get to it” sort of hero, with no if, ands, or buts about him. Unless we imperfect humans consider “faultlessness” a fault in and of itself, then Beowulf is an undeniable hero. He cared for and saved as many people as he could during his mortal state and if it weren’t for that fatal bite, I’m sure Beowulf would be helping little old ladies cross the street.
Shley writes... 