Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs dictates the four different levels of progression that are required to achieve self-actualization. There are a number of different literary characters that were studied this semester that fit into Maslow's hierarchy and strive to achieve self-actualization. The first of all is the character Beowulf who actually achieves self-actualization for a brief time during his adventures. The most important to the human quest for self-actualization is the character Everyman who embodies all human beings on earth and possesses all of their qualities. The third is of course Macbeth, the character that drives himself insane trying to achieve what he views as self-actualization. All of these characters embody some form of the human quest for self-actualization. Some achieve it, some don't it's a question of their strengths and weaknesses. This is true of all humans, these characters demonstrate to us our own quest for self-actualization, some find it, others only experience a flash of enlightenment, and others are content with the level of the hierarchy of needs that they stand on. Some people are doomed to wander blindly in search of that final level on the list, never finding it until, like Macbeth it drives them mad. Each of these characters are on a quest for their own form of self-actualization, Beowulf's s for glory, Everyman's is for self-preservation, and Macbeth's is for power, each have their own quest as do all human beings on their quest for self-actualization.
             The first character on a quest for his own form of self-actualization is Beowulf, who strives for glory in defeating the monster Grendel and finally his mother. Beowulf has already climbed the triangle to belonging at the opening of the story. Beowulf is accepted by his fellow man, however he strives to rise far further than that, adding to his esteem and finally finding his self-actualization. ...