Beowulf: The Imperfection of Man

The story of Beowulf is incontrovertibly a story of greatness. There was a time when no man was superior to this awesome man. Beowulf led a remarkable life, one that was polarized between his early years of prosperity and virtue and his later years of prosperity, virtue, and downfall.

Beowulf was a human hero in his prime years. The younger days of Beowulf are marked by chivalrous bravery, unmatched strength, and a tendency toward goodwill: undoubtedly the characteristics of a champion. He seems almost godlike in his laudable feats as he tells of his swimming match versus Breca, where he toiled against the waves for seven nights. He battles the fearsome Grendel and defeats him soundly with his bare hands. These deeds seem worthy to be designated superhuman, but this would be a misnomer. Beowulf is merely a man and risked his corporeal life to benefit others. Nobody asked him to expel Grendel from the land of the Danes; he came and did it on his own accord. Although Beowulf did receive rewards in for his heroic services, it is apparent that these rewards offered by Hrothgar are only secondary to the good Beowulf brought in his campaign to “cleanse Hart-Hall.” He didn’t need to ask for reward because Hrothgar was so eternally grateful that he wasn’t very sure how to thank him. No rewards were expected, but they were offered as an attempt to reimburse Beowulf. The great hero did not accomplish feats for material reward, but it can be argued that he...