Beowulf And Steve Jobs Comparison

Heroes portray to society the best qualities of the human being, but often possess various flaws. The imperfections of the hero’s human are offset by the “superhuman” characteristics and as a result people become blind to the infirmities. This rationale exists in ancient and modern heroes alike. Beowulf was a hero of the 5th century, A.D., to his people the Geats and also to the Danes. Steve Jobs was a hero of the 21st century to countless business executives and the numerous consumers of Apple products. Although a major gap in time between the lives of the two is present, both Beowulf and Steve Jobs share a number of the strengths of a hero in addition to the weaknesses that lie behind.

Steve Jobs, a hero of the modern era, was an interesting

individual – many different characteristics shaped his persona. Jobs had a rocky start in the early stages of his life: he was an adopted child and in his young adult years he dropped out of college. These were signs of him leading a life full of failure, but Jobs didn’t let that stop him from becoming a charismatic business pioneer. The exerciser of Zen Buddhism didn’t particularly care for fame and the lavish life -- he made it a lifestyle of his to live simply. Though this is true pertaining to his personal life, when it came down to Apple, the now billion-dollar Fortune 500 business Jobs started with Steve Wosniak, Steve Jobs was a staunch believer of enduring items that were “finely designed and crafted” (Isaacson 145). As a result, many praised Jobs for his eye for design. His ability to create and manage a world-class team contributed him to the title as a world-class leader. By all means from the forefront, Steve Jobs was a hero of the business world, but from the inside laid many flaws that would lead some to say otherwise.
From the start of Apple, Jobs wasn’t someone whom people considered easy to work under. Steve Jobs had a way with words – he knew how to use them to charm others and get what he wanted, but also he was wise in how he formulated them to cut someone’s pride. No matter if it was an outsider or a business partner, Jobs’ tongue was hasty and critical. One incident that exhibited his belittling behavior is when he would occasionally tell employees that their work was “sh*t” (Isaacson 114). Jobs’ arrogance made it hard for others to feel comfortable when in a room with him. Steve Jobs was also known, by insiders, to take credit for ideas that were not his own. Ordinarily it was for him to attack another employee’s vision and claim it down the line for himself, which Jony Ive, the person behind Apple’s marvelous product designs, stood victim to. Jony Ive in a statement made in October 2011 to Business Insider, expressed that “it [hurt] when [Steve] took credit for [his designs]” (qtd. in Lynley). Jobs was not sensitive to the people around him and he took forth crippling actions and never recollected if he had done any wrong. Of all the good traits that rested in the 21st century hero’s character, behind laid qualities that didn’t resemble that of a hero’s. His character wasn’t too far off from the ancient hero of Beowulf’s.
The Geats’ great warrior Beowulf is a man of fearlessness and valor. No force could ever stop him; when encountered, Beowulf always has the authority over the enemy. His unwavering strength and cunning knowledge lead him to be the answer to the problems of his people. From battling monstrous beings to fire-breathing dragons, Beowulf does it all and he has all power in his hands.