| Kevin Wayland Dr. Perry English 2322.005 28 September 2006 “Beowulf, The Epic Hero” The epic hero is a character that we all dream of being at one point in our lives. Unlike some archetypes, the hero does not change through time and culture as depicted in Beowulf. The struggles between good and evil, balance and instability, order and chaos, are just a few of the things that Beowulf strives to overcome in his namesake epic poem. Because of this and other factors, Beowulf’s quest to destroy the evil that plagues the land is a perfect example of the hero’s journey. His metaphorical birth, his series of trials, and his tragic death all represent his voyage through the archetype of the hero’s journey. The birth of great Beowulf into Heorot is symbolic of the birth of his journey as shows in the text: Beowulf is my name. If your lord and master, the most renowned son of Halfdane, will hear me out and graciously allow me to greet him in person, I am ready and willing to report my errand. (343-347) This is Beowulf’s first step into the hero’s journey. In this case, Beowulf is actually the son of Ecgtheow, who is a friend of Hrothgar and Hrothgar even says that he “[knew] him when he was a boy” (372). However the most crucial part of Beowulf’s birth is when he announces his quest, which solidifies his journey when he states, “Now I mean to be a match for Grendel, / settle the outcome in single combat”(425-426). This indicates that he wants the “privilege of purifying Heorot”(431). The trials Beowulf undertakes are by no means far and few apart. A very important point to make is that this is not the first time that Beowulf has undergone a difficult trial as he states in the text when provoked my Unferth, “I was the strongest swimmer of all”(534). Beowulf explains how he and Breca challenged each other to a swimming race and that it turned into a battle for his life when “foul things attacked [him]”(559), meaning he was assaulted by creatures of the sea. Not only does this tales of heroism appeal to the reader as a feat of great proportions, but it establishes important credentials on Beowulf’s behalf. This shows that he has accomplished superhuman deeds, which, ironically, is a common quality among epic heroes. Likewise to this endeavor, Beowulf tries again the impossible when he decides to take on the mighty demon, Grendel. It is important to see that Grendel, the evil of the story, is also superhuman in nature. He is a demon that “dwelt for a time / in misery among the banished monsters, / Cain’s clan, whom the Creator had outlawed”(104-106). That night when Grendel arrived to Heorot, his fortunes had finally changed for the worst when he crossed paths with the mighty hero. Beowulf does indeed overcome this trial because he , like most heroes, was a “man, who of all men, / was foremost and strongest in the days of this life”((788-789). However, the trials of Beowulf did not finish after the death of Grendel. He also must destroy Beowulf’s mother, an even greater problem unknown to the people of Heorot. Even so, as a good hero’s journey goes, Beowulf is destined to overcome and “[topple] the doomed / house of her flesh”(1567-1568). Like the Birth of Beowulf, his death is also something that can be metaphorical in nature with respect to the hero’s journey. After a hero has overcome the Trials in his quest, he is supposed to have an Epiphany, something that changes his life or position. This can be followed by a metaphorical death of the old hero, and a rebirth of a new one. In this sense, Beowulf dies in the eyes of Hrothgar, who invites him to be his son and heir. Even though he declines the offer, he does become King when he returns to his homeland, as he is “rewarded . . . with land as well, / seven thousand hides; and a hall and a throne”(2195-2196). After he slays both creatures and overcomes his trials, Beowulf’s former self dies, as he is treaty as even more mighty than before. He becomes a reverend hero with not only the son of Halfdane, but with his uncle Hygelac, so much so that the Hrothgar even decides to make him his heir as mentioned previously. This death is not so much of a tragic loss as a glorious rebirth, which is a popular form of this convention. Between supernatural abilities and wicked demons, divine intervention and predestination, the journey of a hero through his archetypal quest remains constant in its conventions. Sometimes the intermediate tools of this quest, such as the form the trials take or the supernatural aspect, may change. But, the existence of these conventions is undeniable. Beowulf as an epic poem, qualifies as an example a hero’s quest through three examples: Birth, Trials, and Death/Rebirth. Which shows that a seemingly unsuspecting individual or a tested hero may go through a quest that defines that individual as a hero in the immortal eyes of literature. |
