Heroic qualities have always been debatable but historians tend to agree that the qualities of a hero are a reflection of the values of the society. Augustus and Beowulf are two individuals revered as heroes during their own time. Both sustained their share of criticism but still managed to come out on top. Augustus was responsible for uniting Rome and creating a society that influenced every single society that followed. Beowulf’s success was in keeping the peace for the Geats with the surrounding kingdoms. Through comparing the ideals and values of Rome in the first century and Britain in the eighth, a definite parallel can be drawn connecting these values with how the people viewed the heroes of the time: Beowulf and Augustus.
Despite criticism that Augustus used bribery and intimidation to force his way into power, his successful leadership of Rome during the first century B.C. made him one of the greatest leaders of all time. Augustus was thought of as a powerful man and he always had the good of Rome in mind and never took his power for granted. Obviously, Augustus was proud of his leadership and even said as much in his Res Gestae Divi Augusti. His tone did not seem to be bragging, but merely stated the facts of
. . .
” He was eventually given full tribunician power along with the titles of prince, chief priest of the state, and emperor. He typically left his troops behind and fought his foes alone. These civil wars were a “political and social outrage” (MHB 156) to the Romans so the people were eternally grateful to Augustus for putting an end to such a long period of political controversies and finally uniting the nation. When the army became extraordinarily large, Augustus created colonies that not only spread the Roman language and culture but also produced a mighty political, social and economic network of civilizations. That was just one insignificant aspect of Roman society when most of their society was based upon tradition. He also emphasized that he repaired Rome without inscribing his name on the buildings and he often gave shows in other people’s names to show that he was not motivated by glory. His whole point in attacking the worm was to obtain the treasure it had been guarding for ages.
In addition to his brilliant military mind, Augustus was also known as a great politician. Augustus embraced both the political and military genius necessary to mold Rome into the strong society that it became. He succeeded in ending the civil wars that were “purely the result of aristocratic ambition and rivalries” (MHB 155), which had been plaguing Rome for fifty years. Beowulf merely stated the facts and did not leave out the slightest detail about what great things he accomplished. Augustus’s main success in his Roman empire was leaving behind a legacy that every society since then has been influenced by. He also portrayed himself as a compassionate man because he “spared all citizens who sought pardon” (WRW 56). Of course, military strength was extremely important because kingdoms were constantly feuding with one another, but the Germanic culture Beowulf was a part of lacked the order of Ancient Rome.
The Romans put forth their faith and support in Augustus and continually gave him bigger and better titles.
Approximate Word count =
2026
Approximate Pages =
8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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