Beowulf And Gawain: An Archetypal Analysis

Beowulf and Gawain: An Archetypal Analysis

of Cultural Evolution

What makes a hero? Is being a hero based on superpowers or are they defined through acts of selflessness? The tales of heroes have been passed down for millennia evolving with society to fit the tenacious mold in which they were created. The narrative poems Beowulf, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight both follow the monomythic pattern; which Joseph Campbell explains in The Hero with a Thousand Faces, analyzing myths throughout history and discovering that they all share the same structure. Yet the evolution of certain cultural ideals that developed during the Middle Ages causes these two heroes to embark on extremely different journeys, reflecting paradigm shifts in the ways

each culture viewed one’s place in society.
Beowulf’s journey begins as he hears of the evil Grendel who has been viciously attacking the Danes over “twelve winters” (147) and decides to put a stop to this menace for fame and glory. With King Hygelac’s permission, Beowulf along with 14 warriors embarked on their journey across the North Sea with confidence. Beowulf does not deny his call to adventure because he was gifted with the power and strength to do the job. The concept that Ben Parker expresses in spider man that “with great power comes great responsibility,” is inferred throughout the novel, as Beowulf’s tremendous strength is vital to multiple societies.
Beowulf boasts about past battles throughout most of the Anglo-Saxon epic; although three battles are extremely important in Beowulf’s journey to fame. Unharmed by weapons, Grendel and Beowulf engage in a gruesome arm to arm battle. Surprised by Beowulf’s strength, Grendel tries to flee but Beowulf’s grip is too strong; Grendel's arm is ripped from the socket. The proof of his victory was proven by the “Hanging high/ From the rafters where Beowulf had hung it, was/ the monster's/ Arm, claw, and shoulder and all.” (833-836) Fatally wounded, Grendel retreats to the swamp land where he dies. In a mournful rage, Grendel's mother attacks Heorot. Beowulf tracks her to her swampy lair and descends to seek vengeance. Grendel’s mother then attacks Beowulf and drags him to her cave. The use of weaponry proved yet again ineffective, causing Beowulf to use nothing but his bare hands, until Grendel's mother manages to get on top of him. She then attempts to kill him with her dagger which was unable to pierce through his armor. Beowulf notices a large sword and uses it to slice the sea monster in two. In the monster's cave, he notices Grendel's body and decapitates him as a symbol of his victory.
After Beowulf completes his quest, he returns to Herot and falls into a deep slumber. Once he wakes, he informs Hrothgar that he and his men must return to Geatland. Hrothgar presents Beowulf with twelve treasures. Beowulf and his warriors then return to the coast, where they reward the watchman who has guarded their ship. On arrival, Hygelac greats the warriors with a toast, leading to the telling of Beowulf’s heroic tale. Beowulf rewards Hygelac the gifts Hrothgar had bestowed upon him, where he is praised throughout Gatland for his courageous deeds. Hygelac then repays Beowulf by bestowing a great deal of treasure and land in which he can rule. As time progresses, Hygelac is killed in battle with the Shylfings, and the kingdom falls to Beowulf.
Beowulf’s once modest characteristics soon transform him into a narcissistic, self-loathing leader. Until one day a thief tries to flee in a desperate attempt to escape the angry leaders of Geatland. Upon his departure, he stumbles into the den of the dragon, where he discovers an immense amount of gold and riches, where he then steals a goblet and continues to flee the city. Awoken by the intruder, the dragon escapes in vengeance, scorching the earth in his path. A now aged and deteriorated Beowulf constructs a plot to put an end to the dragon’s demise. Beowulf, blinded by his glory, goes into the battle with the dragon, although the burden of his old age is hanging over his conscience. His overconfidence eventually leads to his downfall when the monster defeats the “undefeatable”. Although he was described as a glorious deity he dies with only one faithful warrior to which he requests that his wealth is distributed to his people.
Anglo-Saxon values were composed of generous leaders, loyal warriors, and that everything was determined by impersonal irresistible fate.

Generous kings were often referred to as “ring-giver” (28) because they shared their wealth to those who proved loyal. This is prominent throughout Beowulf, although many of the kings and royal families were considered to be courageous and fierce. This can be seen in Beowulf when he insists on fighting the dragon alone, showing that he attained an attribute that all kings should possess, bravery. Although warriors were supposed to follow the warrior code, most men were driven by their desires for fame and acted out of selfishness. Yet, a true warrior figure is demonstrated by Wiglaf, who remains by Beowulf’s side as the other warriors flee. Fate is mentioned all throughout the Anglo-Saxon epic, which was a major part of their cultural ideals. Believing that everything was predetermined, and that nothing could alter the course of their life.

Sir Gawain’s journey begins when the Green Knight challenges the court's knights honor and invites them to play a “game.” The court refuses to take the Green Knight's challenge, and are taunted until King Arthur volunteer his life to put an end the Green Knights persistent advances. Sir Gawain volunteers as a tribute as an attempt to prove his worthiness to be in the court, although he feels like the underdog. The Green Knight allows Gawain to cut off his head with his danish axe, with the promise that in a year's time, he will be able to do the

same.
Gawain decapitates the knight, but to his surprise, the knight does not fall over dead, he simply walks over and retrieves his severed head. Before leaving, the Green Knight reminds Gawain of his commitment and tells him to meet him in a year and a day at the green chapel. As the season's change, Gawain's anxiety increases tremendously, knowing that he may not return from his quest. As Gawain departs from Camelot and heads toward the Green Chapel, he stumbles upon giants, experiences hunger and is tormented by the cold. Miserable and hopeless, Gawain prays and asks god to help him on his journey. As Gawain opens his eyes, he can see a castle from afar. Gawain is welcomed with open arms. In exchange for a place to rest, Gawain must give his host all that he receives at the manor while the host goes out to hunt.
On the first day at the castle, the host hunts deer by separating the leaders from the weak, killing only the weak. As he ventures into the wilderness, the host’s wife attempts to seduce Gawain but manages to steal a kiss as he tries to push her away. When the host returns, Gawain kisses the host, exchanging the kiss that he recieved from his wife. On the second day the host hunts boars, and yet again his wife attempts to seduce Gawain. This time, she steals two kisses from Gawain, in which he must pass on to the host. In exchange for his kisses, the host gifts him the boar's head. This can be viewed as a foreshadowing of Gawain's fate. On the third and final day before he departs to meet the green knight, the woman attempts to seduce him for the final time. He insists that he is unworthy of the lady’s affection. She bestows three kisses upon Gawain and tries to buy his affection with gifts. He politely denies multiple items until she mentions a girdle with the power to protect him. Unconfident of his own potential, Gawain takes the sash in hopes that it will help him live. When the host returns with nothing but a fox, Gawain gifts the three kisses to the host but keeps the girdle for himself.
The next morning, Gawain embarks on his journey to the Green Chapel. As he approaches the green chapel, he hears the sound of an axe being sharpened. Hesitantly, he calls out to the Green Knight, who emerges from the Chapel. Gawain and the Green Knight waste no time and immediately go forward with completing the bind of their contract. As the Green Knight attempts to strike Gawain, he moves away in fear. Unhappy, the Green Knight then strikes again, when Gawain does not flinch, the Knight is prepared to go through with his promise. On the third and final swing, he nicks Gawain’s neck. Once the contract had been completed, the Green Knight reveals his identity. He explains to Gawain that he is really the host of the castle in which he had stayed. He admits that he did not strike Gawain on the first two attempts because he had been honest about what he acquired, but expresses that since he did not give him the girdle, that he was unloyal. He implies that Gawain put his life before his honor and loyalty, thus leading to his unhealable wound. But because he did not give in to the temptress, that his life would be spared. The Green Knight confesses to being working for Morgan le Faye, King Arthur’s evil half-sister trying to destroy Camelot. Gawain wears the girdle on his arm as a reminder of his failure to remain loyal. He returns to Arthur’s court, where all the knights join Gawain, wearing girdles on their arms to show their support. Gawain’s journey to discover the importance of loyalty and honor does not heal the community for long. Lancelot and Queen Guinevere have an affair which causes the destruction of King Arthur’s court.
The values of the late middle ages contrast dramatically with Anglo-Saxon ideals. Following the concepts of chivalry and courtly love,Gawain is guided on a challenging quest to prove to himself the value of his worth. Chivalry was created on the basis of bravery, politeness, fairness and nobility both on and off the battlefield. Gawain struggles with all of these throughout the novel multiple times whether questioning his self-worth or second guessing his decisions. Throughout this work, the author hints at the idea that the rules of chivalry are artificial, as well as the fact that chivalry and courtly love contrast. Courtly love is frequent throughout the novel, in which he respects King Arthur and turns to god for assistance.
Although both epics are about heroes, their journeys affect different people differently. Beowulf is a hero to society in which he saves millions of people's lives. Attacking monsters unarmed and violently was acceptable in the anglo-Saxons culture, but in the late middle ages, this went against everything the knights governed themselves by, which was chivalry. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight he is the hero of his own story in which his community fails to see the lesson on the basis of his quest, the value of loyalty and honor, which were also aspects of chivalry. The anglo Saxons believed in fate while Gawain turned to god for violence. This is a result of the Norman conquest of England in 1066, which introduced Christianity to these communities. Physical features are contrasted throughout the epic are keen as Beowulf was known for his superhuman strength and Gawain was known for his determination.