Beowolf: The Perfect Hero

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In the epic journey, Beowulf, the main character Beowulf is shown as the perfect hero throughout the entire journey. Though there isn’t such thing as being a perfect hero, Beowulf exemplifies the traits of one, having the presence of bravery, strength and modesty. Beowulf, "the hero of all heroes," who is athletic and bold, is the prince of Geats. He stands by his word, once he makes a vow. Even if it might just take his own life, he will complete the journey, no matter what the cost. He likes to be there for the people that are in need of help from evil, so he is rarely backed down from any battle. He is willing to danger his life for his principles manifest the true heroic character inside him. In all, Beowulf overpowers three ghastly demons, two of whom are Cain’s heir.

Even though Beowulf is quite the hero, he is also illustrated as being extremely prideful. During the Anglo-Saxon period, character traits that were most common for a hero is a rather egoistical and boastful which Beowulf has. He is more interested in his honor as a hero that he is even willing to take on any task without a real fear of death. The poem explores his heroism in two separate phases, the younger Beowulf and the older one, and through three different, but increasingly difficult conflicts with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. These time periods in his life, correlated with two contrasting standards of integrity. There is a clear division between his youth heroism as an unburdened and free warrior and his more mature and older heroism as the respectable king. Although one can see the three battles as a heroic code being expressed, it's always the reader to see the growth that he exhibit throughout the fifty year difference. Much of the mor...

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...free will at all. Also, it is difficult to put the blame on him, since he was acting of the commands of his warrior instinct. However, it overlooks the dwelling fate that the last part of the poem's emphasis to understand Beowulf’s death mainly as a personal failure to himself.

The two components throughout the poem is Beowulf essentially shows a record of his heroic deeds, giving him the title of a perfect hero. He attempts to live up to the same standards as his ancestors, so he takes pride in ancestors who have acted valiantly in their duties. The poem contains several situations for which the heroic code offers no practical guidance about how to act when loyalties were divided. However, over the course of the poem, Beowulf does mature from a valiant warrior into a well-loved leader. His changeover establishes the values that coexists with both of his roles.

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