Beowulf Tragic Hero

The epic tale, Beowulf, was first recorded in 1,000 AD and has been passed down for hundreds of years. This piece of literature is noted for portraying a literary character known as the tragic hero. In the epic, a hero of the Geats, named Beowulf, comes to the aid of King Hrothgar of Denmark. In spite of his great intentions, Beowulf experiences a major downfall. He is deemed a tragic hero because although he is an honorable character with great accomplishments , he encounters a tragedy due to his tragic flaw.

Beowulf is a triumphant character who was able to free the Land of the Danes from all evil. Thus, he is considered to be a heroic figure. In the graphic novel, Beowulf states “many deeds of note have I done in my life, and now the reports

of the monster Grendel have brought me to your land” (Hinds, Book 1). It is important to remember that if it were not for Beowulf, the Land of the Danes would have continued to live in terror of Grendel. He accomplished to kill potential threats to the Danes, such as Grendel and his mother. It is shown that Beowulf is the epitome of a hero because he reveals courage and self-sacrifice for the well-being of humanity, throughout his battles. According to the text, “Beowulf soon delivered to Hrothgar the hilt of the sword and the severed head of Grendel” (Hinds, Book 2). In other words, Beowulf had a great sense of pride in his achievements that no one else was able to execute. The hilt of the giant sword and the severed head of Grendel symbolize Beowulf’s value as a warrior to society. He is respected for his noble qualities and accomplishments; therefore he is a hero.
Granted that Beowulf possessed both, heroic characteristics and a tragic flaw, he is viewed as a tragic hero.

His demise was mainly caused by his arrogance and excessive pride in himself. Beowulf states “So now I am come, my lord king, to fight single-handed against this Grendel” (Hinds, Book 1). This illustrates that Beowulf’s ego was so intense that he felt no need for weapons. This is significant because it shows that Beowulf relied on his inhuman strength to battle against the conflicts he endures throughout the graphic novel. His hubris, or excessive pride in himself, played a noteworthy role in the actions he took. From Beowulf’s perspective, the text states “Twas my comrades who put thought in my heart, for they have seen my valorous deeds, how I had conquered the foes of my country and brought the race of giants low and slain monsters both on sea and on land” (Hinds, Book 1). In other words, Beowulf exemplifies his large ego when he boasts about his past achievements. His success earlier in in his life caused for him to believe that he was invincible and indestructible. However, there is a turning point when Beowulf is mortally wounded after his confrontation with a dragon in Book 3. His overconfidence supports him temporarily, until his tragic death at the end of this battle. Ultimately, his hamartia led to his death. Therefore, he is a prime example of a tragic

hero.
Others may argue that Beowulf was not a tragic hero because his death was a result of his elderly age. If he would have fought the dragon when he was younger and stronger, he may have
been successful in this battle. However, it was Beowulf’s nature of entering numerous battles to protect his kingdom that causes him to die. According to the text, “Beowulf took the kingdom upon himself, ruling its people prudently for fifty years, warding them well, until One began in the dark of night- a Dragon - to rage” (Hinds, Book 3). Beowulf felt that it was his responsibility, as King, to look after his kingdom. He focused on sheltering the people from the “evil”. This suggests Beowulf’s strong sense of allegiance and support for the Geats because he put himself in harm’s way for them. Thus, Beowulf’s death was caused by his selfless and brave personality, that encouraged him to rise up to numerous challenges.
In short, the graphic novel, Beowulf, revolves around the main character who has to face supernatural beings and perform courageous deeds for Denmark and Geatland. His role of the tragic hero in Beowulf shows how virtuous characters encounter both, strengths and weaknesses. Despite Beowulf’s reputation as a person, he was destined for a tragedy, where he lost his life. Given these points, Beowulf is a tragic hero.