Beowulf

Due to the references to fate, it is clear that Beowulf does not choose to fight in the battles he fights in for the sake of what is right and good; he does not even have a clear understanding of good and evil. When he finally beats Grendel's mother, he searches for the monster's body to seize it's head so that when he returns to the land of the Geats he will be able to succeed to the throne.

Some time later, as an old king, Beowulf goes into what will be his final battle, still with unaltered confidence. These are not comments of a man solely concerned with advancing the right and the good of the world. In some of his final moments, he manages to prove one last time that he was really out for his own fame and glory all along. He leaves Wiglaf with instructions for a tomb to be built "at the water's edge, high /…so sailors can see / This tower, and remember [his] name, and call it Beowulf's tower" (812-815). He only wants to gain fame and glorify himself, which is proven over and over again through his arrogant boasting. This proves once again that Beowulf's main concern is his own fame and glorification.

If Beowulf is truly concerned with just advancing righteousness and goodness, it would seem unlikely that he would sacrifice his own men as bait to seduce Grendel (409-411). He also appears very full of himself when he defends himself to Unferth, telling him that no one can swim as he can or match his strength. It would make more sense for him to be more willing to set himself up in that position, if he were not able to defeat the monster.