Introduction
A hero is a person who pursues his dreams and goals to the letter end. Such a person realizes the purpose which he is living for and is willing and ready to achieve them no matter what. Various personal characters in Beowulf reveal the nature of a true hero. This attributes include courage, persistence, passion and determination. These are some of the characters displayed in the epic poem of Beowulf. As we shall observe in the literature, Beowulf is one man who understands pain and will not allow such consequences to befall those dear and near to them. His is an act of self-will where he purposes to pursue his enemies to the latter end (Fulk, 59). Most of the characters displayed in the poem have also displayed this important quality and proved that they have what it takes achieve their purposes. Heroes are not cowards, they are hence not threatened be death, they consider challenges to be an important aspect of their life and will face with courage. In fact, it is by overcoming one challenge that they will be convinced that they will be able to face the next. I this paper, we shall be looking at major themes in Beowulf and how the ideas of heroism have been displayed.
Vengeance
Vengeance is the main theme that has been displayed in Beowulf. This is displayed in the opening lines where the protagonist, Beowulf is called upon by one of his friends, Hrothgar, the king of the Danes. His hall had been attacked by a monster and therefore requiring Beowulf to fight him. Looking at this instance, it is the loyalty that Beowulf had towards the king that he decided to attack the dragon and even kills it with his own hands. It should be noted here tat the heroic act performed by Beowulf was not just for him but also for the defense of the kind and his household. This formed the basis of other battles that were faced by Beowulf, which originated from his initial attack of the dragon. When it comes to playing a hero, one realizes that they are at threat. This therefore means that other people who will try to outsmart them will challenge whatever they will be engaged in. Beowulf seemed to understand this very well and was ready to take up he challenge. To him, he knew he was a hero and mainly looked for opportunities where he would display his strength and power.
After killing the dragon with his own hands, Beowulf and his men are forced to face his mother who is agitated by the fact that his son is dead. This leads to her killing one of Beowulf’s trusted warriors. Again, this agitates Beowulf whose anger would end up by killing the mother. It is after a series of such battles that he succeeds that his people appoint him kind. Being kind did not stop him from engaging in other battles. In his first encounter as king, he faced a dragon that was furriers after the stealing of a golden cup. Beowulf takes up the responsibility by deciding to face the dragon and killing it. Unlike other battles where he successfully prevailed, the dragon wounded him. He was in fact rescued by one of his courageous warrior men to finally slain the dragon. The wounds he obtained made him ill to the point of death.
The theme of vengeance therefore plays an important role in displaying the heroic nature of Beowulf and other characters. The fact that the beasts hurt his acquaintances makes him angry. He believes in himself and the importance of victory. Beowulf considers himself to be a winner, a character he also imparts on his followers. He would therefore not allow any beats, however great it may seem to be to render his strength invalid. He becomes a point of strength to the weak by revenging their foes. This is the character of a true hero. Having the ability to empathize with others situations and even risking ones life just to save them is what Beowulf has displayed.
Pride
Pride is another heroic theme that has been displayed in the epic poems of Beowulf. Starting with the first incidence, we can see pride in Hrothgar, Beowulf, Grendel, Grendel’s mother, Beowulf warriors and in the dragon. All this are characters who believe in their strength and will therefore face their enemies and prove their heroic side. Despite the fact that some parties have displayed great strength before, they refuse to fall for surrender. This sees most of them face their deaths just because they failed to recognize their weaknesses and purposed to fight to the latter. This aspect of determination, which is displayed by overlooking one’s weakness, is a sign of true heroism. Hrothgar had been overwhelmed b the beast, but instead of living it all, he seeks the help of Beowulf to help him conquer. He realized his weaknesses in not being able to fight the beast yet he does not settle for defeat. He finds an alternative solution to his issues.
Beowulf on the other hand accepts the challenge of fighting the beast without showing fear or question. The fact that he chose to fight the beast with his bare hands rather than use weapons displays his pride. In the real sense, he wanted to prove to the beast, the king and even his warriors that the beast is not so powerful for him to use weapons. He also takes up the responsibility himself and keeps his warriors aside to simply witness the victory. After killing the beast, Beowulf and his warriors do not flee but instead camp in the territory (Staver, 92). They are not afraid of the vengeance that is raging from the mother of the beast and even dares to fight her. After his efforts to try fighting the beast with his hand and weapons failed, Beowulf is daring enough to take her spear and kill her with it.
The other aspect of pride in displaying heroism is revealed when the dragon gets angry after her golden cup is stolen. He does not settle for the loss but decides to pursue the community where he suspects that the cup went. Beowulf after realizing this does not just accept that the dragon deserves justice by having his cup back but instead defends the wrong act of the girl. He takes the blame on himself and in a way to prove that the girl was justified in her actions, he fights the beast. Pride is also prominent when Beowulf tells his warriors to take a back suit as he faces the dragon himself (Fulk, 39). He has so much faith in his capabilities that he believes he will manage the task alone. This is also a heroism character; Beowulf must have seen the risk that will be involved in fighting the dragon of which he does not want his men to face. He has taken it upon himself so that even if there has to be injuries, he should be the one to face them but not his men.
The last aspect of pride in heroism has also been revealed when the dragon injures Beowulf that he has to be rescued by one of his warriors. It was unfortunate that some of his warriors could not stand the sight of the dragon fighting Beowulf that they had to hide in the bushes. It was only one who could not stand seeing his master being bruised when he could do something (Gwara, 52). Despite the injuries that Beowulf succumbed to, his heroic character and that of his warrior were displayed when they finally slain the beast. This was the last battle of Beowulf with the dragon where he did not just die of the injuries he sustain but with the pride of killing two beats and a dragon.
Determination
Determination is paramount for anyone who has to be termed as a hero. It is a journey of uncertainties where fear is likely to hinder one from reaching their destiny. What will distinguish a hero from the rest is how they purpose to achieve their goals against all odds. Challenges have to be accepted and in fact taken as opportunities t display their strength. Beowulf has displayed such determination especially when handling his enemies. He was always looking for an opportunity to prove his abilities. Even though most of the battles he fought did not directly affect him, he took them up because he was determined to exercise his power and strength. His first battle with the beast was a request from the king. The beast had not wronged Beowulf but the fact that they wronged a friend made him take the responsibility to fight them. This is also applicable when we look at what aggravated him to fight the dragon. It is the determination he had in facing the beast and the dragon that earned him his heroic character.
Courage
Courage is a character that ever hero has to face. People attempt great things but is is only heroes who will face even greater things. This, they do even after seeing the risks they are exposed to including death. There is no obstacle; however big it may seem to be that will prevent them from their achievements. When other people see an obstacle, a hero will see victory beyond the obstacle (Gwara, 83). Beowulf was not just fighting with mere men that matched his strength; he faced beats and dragons that were known to be using supernatural powers. It is only a person of courage that will dare challenge the strength of supernatural beings. Just like a supernatural being, a hero realizes that he is also supernatural in his own ways and hence has to face and fight the supernatural.
Focus
Focus is another element of heroism that has been displayed in epic poems of Beowulf. Without focus, one can easily be drawn away but situations and circumstances. There is no life without opposing features. Unless one understands what they are meant to be, they are likely to loose focus even as they fix their attention on other features that seem good. Beowulf never lost his focus and always went for greater things. He understood well that he was a hero and that he had to be distinguished fro the rest of the people. He did this on several occasions, requesting his warriors not to assist him but simply watch him fight the battles. With this, he implied that he knew his purpose and would do it whether they rendered him support or not. Despite the fact that the beast and the dragon overwhelmed him, he looked for other alternative means to fight them rather than surrender to their power.
Conclusion
Beowulf was a man who knew what his purse was. There are numerous conclusions that can be derived from his character, which if followed, will make life interesting. One thing that Beowulf had to overcome was fear; unfortunately, fear is a vice that continue to hinder many from achieving their goals and purposes. Success is only for people who understand how to counter their fears and face their life with courage. Beowulf faced his fears by facing obstacles that were considered to be beyond his strength. He set high standards for his life which enabled him achieve his goals (Staver, 76). He must have understood that if he has to effectively rule over humans, he has to confront powers that are higher than human beings are. He was assured that if he had the ability to kill a monster, there is no other natural challenge that would be beyond him. He was undoubtedly a hero as he proved his ability to defend his people by confront supernatural powers.
Works cited
Fulk, Robert. Interpretations of Beowulf: A Critical Anthology. Indiana: Indiana University
Press, 1991.
Gwara, Scott. Heroic Identity in the World of Beowulf. New York: BRILL, 2008.
Staver, Ruth. A Companion To Beowulf. London: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2005.
