Heroism in Beowulf and Frankenstein

With fear comes courage, with experience comes bravery, and with pain comes strength. One may assume that these traits are the exact characteristics a hero. However, heroism can come in many different forms. Victor Frankenstein, from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and Beowulf exemplify many different traits of heroism.

The perfect image of a true hero is Beowulf. His courage and confidence seems to come naturally. He is the ideal man; he puts others before himself and has amazing physical and mental strength. He is so revered that he can boast about his achievements without seeming vain. “I had greater strength on the sea, more ordeals on the waves as any other man.” (Luizza 69)

Perhaps his most powerful trait is his apathy towards death. "If battle should take me...wyrd will unwind as it must!" (Luizza 67). He is able to ignore his fear, if he has any at all, and put all of his effort towards fighting evil. Before fighting the dragon he states, “It is not your way, nor proper for any man except me alone, that he should match his strength against this monster, do heroic deeds. with daring I shall get that gold-or grim death and fatal battle will bear away your lord!” (Luizza 131). This shows that he doesn’t have to think twice before risking his own life for the safety of others.

Beowulf is incredibly altruistic. He feels obligated to defend his people and he does so with absolute determination and bravery. He was beloved by everyone who knew him. “They said that of all the kings upon the earth he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, kindest to his people and keenest to win fame.” (Luizza 150). Even after he is fatally wounded by the dragon, his dying wish is for his tomb to serve as a lighthouse. No matter how terr...

... middle of paper ...

...bounds of moderation.” (Shelley 70) Inside, he knows that he has done something horribly wrong and his plan is to try to be strong so he can defeat his creation.

Beowulf is the exact image of a perfect hero. He is unimaginably strong, selfless, determined and courageous. Victor Frankenstein may be much less of a hero, but a hero nonetheless. Heroism is often seen as someone who is strong, brave, selfless and determined. It is someone who would risk their own life for the benefit of others. It is someone who is physically strong and mentally capable of enduring extreme pain and hardship. Heroism can ultimately be defined as someone who puts others ahead of themselves.

Bibliography

Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein 1818, Marilyn Butler. United States: Oxford university press, 1993

Beowulf, R.M.Liuzza, Toronto Ontario, Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency, 2000