Adversity In Beowulf

In “Beowulf”, the author employs the use of various, mystical beasts in order to heighten a connection with human emotion. The author crafts messages of bravery, loyalty, and strength in order to illustrate the ability that humans have to face adversity.

In “Beowulf”, the author is determined to make his protagonist appear as powerful as he is hardworking. Grendel, his mother, and the dragon stand to represent various challenges of physical, mental, and moral audacity. Grendel’s mother, known also as a “hell-dam” (1292), fights aggressively although not as much physically as she did mentally. In “Beowulf”, the reader is expected to accept the existence of monsters and demons, but the author did not decide this for mere entertainment value.

Grendel’s mother symbolizes a mental battle, and one that Beowulf must be wise in as to accomplish his ultimate goal: slaying the “hell-dam”,. While in the historical sense of this tale many would believe in monsters, the reality is that they were not a party of the common physical world, so suspension of disbelief results in more of the audience’s mind focusing on the characters and theirs traits which shape “Beowulf”. Further reasoning concludes that Beowulf’s heroic traits, such as his mental agility, are heightened by his unpleasant encounter with the drunk Unferth, who is overwhelmed by emotions of discontent and distrust. Beowulf, who is challenged by a thane of the name Unferty, informs him of his “cleverness and quick tongue” (588) and how it will guide him into “suffering damnation in the depths of hell” (589) should he proceed with his arrogance. Beowulf is disgraced by the thane’s retelling of the race with Breca, but the hero calmly asserts his strength as he continues his boast, expressing his pride in clearing the sea of monsters. In doing so, Beowulf displays his reverence for charitable actions over proclaiming victory, a characteristic seen as noble and well-intentioned.
However, “Beowulf”, while the legend of a powerful leader overcoming intense situations is also tailored to an audience of much different opinions. The author of this piece remains a mystery to this day. However, many professors have made the inference that the author was a Christian monk from Northern Europe in the mid 700s. This detail would heighten the reason for the awkward inclusion of Christian values, such as when Beowulf completes his strife with Grendel’s mother victoriously, proclaiming the Lord “often helps the unbefriended” (1662). Rather than boasting his achievements as was expected of Anglo-Saxon warriors, Beowulf goes to thand his achievements to God. The historical pressure, such as the fact that Europe was undergoing a rapidly spreading conversion to Christianity, would have made a more accurate representation of Anglo-Saxons and Pagans complicated to complete. Also, Beowulf only mentions victories over the beast after this, making it apparent that the genuine characters could have been warped to conform to standards that exemplify heroic code, but not to a full extent. Nearing the story’s conclusion, Beowulf harks with his unknowing last boast that he will “pursue this fight for the glory of winning” (2513-14) and permitting the safety of his people.