Compare And Contrast Christianity In The Seafarer

England was Pagan country from 449 A.D. until 597 A.D. However, in 597 A.D., St. Augustine and his followers converted the Englanders to Christianity, or they tried to. Pagan beliefs and Christianity beliefs were exceedingly different. Pagan beliefs revolved around the idea that people’s lives were controlled by Fate. The Anglo-Saxons believed that people were weak when they would walk away from a fight or felt cowardly. “Heroes and heroines often could not leave a situation with honor because they could only choose between two evils. This usually meant that they could either succumb to their fate and show no valor, or try to resist it with violence, which probably ended in one’s death” (Klees). However, Christians believed in a God that

However, throughout the poem there were numerous instances where the speaker also mentioned Fate, which reveals how torn people were between the subject. The beginning of the poem shows how he is desperate to get back to the sea. However, the poem quickly changes pace and focuses on the Christian faith. The speakers sounds like his is preaching a sermon because he was encouraging people to obey the Lord. He mentions how wealth makes no difference once in heaven and he makes it seem like he is a devoted Christian. However, the speaker brings up the concept of Fate numerous times throughout the poem. “‘The poem is a direct reflection of the speaker’s own uncertainty and conflict’” (Klees). The speaker seems to understand the Christian religion because he makes many references to it throughout the poem and makes connections to the actual story; this is, however wrong. Throughout the story, he intertwines the beliefs of Christians with the Pagan beliefs. The speaker mixes up the concept of Fate with the Christian idea of free will. This shows how people had trouble trying to escape the former Anglo-Saxon

This truly reflected the conflicting beliefs the Anglo-Saxon people were feeling at the time. In line 41 of the Seafarer, it says, “Grown so brave, or so graced by God.” However in line 43, the poem says, “Wondering what Fate has willed and will do.” One can see that these are two very different things, but they were used in the same context. In line 64 to 80 are the lines in which many different concepts are thrown out at once. Again, line 64 and 65 mention, “Thus the joys of God Are fervent with life.” However, line 69 and 70 says, “Certain which of Fate’s three threats Would fall.” Some stanzas with these examples seem to be written to where anyone can interpret it in a anyway he or she may want to. This stanza was written to where anyone can interpret it in any way they want