Themes in Beowulf
According to Webster's dictionary a theme is a topic or idea. When applied to literature themes are helpful in the reader's understanding of the characters' world and beliefs. In Beowulf there are many themes that help the reader relate to the characters. The themes of loyalty, envy, revenge, and reputation reflect the values and beliefs of the characters in Beowulf and help to explain the motivations of the various characters. One of the central themes in this epic is loyalty. Throughout Beowulf's long and illustrious career loyalty is the main motivation behind his actions and the actions of his closest comrades. At the beginning of his career loyalty forces him to assist Hrothgar and the Danes in defeating Grendel as repayment for Hrothgar helping his father years earlier. When Beowulf's father, Ecgtheow was a young man he had killed the leader of another tribe. When the tribe sought revenge Hrothgar protects Beowulf's father and settles the feud by giving treasures to the rival tribe. Thus, Beowulf is motivated by the loyalty he feels toward the king of the Danes and feels that it is only right for him to come to the aid of King Hrothgar by lending a helping hand in defeating the mighty monster, Grendel.
Envy is the main motivation behind Grendel's twelve-year attack on Herot. Even though Beowulf's wish is to become king he shows his loyalty to the royal family by his refusal to take the throne and by insisting that the rightful person, the prince should be king. Beowulf understands that Grendel fights without a sword and says that, "I also wish (in order to please my own dear prince Hygealac, and make him proud of me) to lay aside my shining sword and yellow shield, and show that demon a fight to the death, foe against foe, with my grip alone!" (Beowulf, 434-440). Another example of Beowulf wanting to build a fine reputation is by the fact that he wants to fight Grendel alone with no help and no sword or armor. According to legend, Grendel is a descendant of Cain and should be isolated for life for the fact that his ancestor killed Abel. To him Herot represents everything about mankind that he hates: success, happiness, and favor in the eyes of God. The envy that Grendel feels toward the Danes drives him to the point of revenge. The themes in the epic, Beowulf, are helpful in giving insight to the lives of the characters. When she retrieves the claw she retreats back to her cave where she has the added advantage of fighting in her home territory. Beowulf goes to the aid of the Danes as not only a way to repay Hrothgar but also as a way to become famous. Her feelings of revenge escalate as she is face to face with the killer of her son. The mead-hall, Herot represents what Grendel will never have and as a result night after night he attacks the hall. Never have I heard of a harder night battle under heaven's vault, nor a man more forlorn among the waves; but I survived the violent clutch of those foes, and weary from the fight was swept by the flooding tides onto Finmark shores, left high and dry (Beowulf, 574-581). ample of loyalty is when Beowulf returns to Geatland. Beowulf's reputation is also at stake when Unferth taunts him at the banquet by bringing up the fact that he lost a swimming race as a youngster, Beowulf gracefully and maturely defends his reputation to the approval of King Hrothgar by telling how he lost the race because of having to battle sea monsters:In the end my sword appeared to have slain nine sea-beasts.
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