Essay On Morality And Values In Beowulf

Throughout the epic poem, Beowulf, morality and values shine through in a variety of circumstances. These morals just so happen to stem from the heart of the Anglo-Saxon culture. Strong in their beliefs, the Anglo-Saxons focused on loyalty, friendship, and bravery above all else. Beowulf serves as a prime example of these priorities, and holds innumerable examples depicting each of these. Beginning with friendship, the audience sees Hrothgar immediately offer Beowulf his appreciation for coming to defend his people. Hrothgar states, “Beowulf, you’ve come to us in friendship, and because of the reception your father found at our court” (23 as translated by Burton Raffel). As this could be mistaken as a bribe, it is far from it. Taking the Anglo-Saxon culture into consideration, we know that Hrothgar offers this

Perhaps the crux or event the backbone of the entire Anglo-Saxon culture. Throughout the epic, Beowulf, Hrothgar, and eventually Wiglaf demonstrate a preponderance (which still, is an understatement) of loyalty. Beowulf to his lord, Hrothgar to his people, and Wiglaf to Beowulf, each character shows some sort of admiration for this trait. As the examples of loyalty are plentiful throughout the epic, none compare to the loyalty between Beowulf and Wiglaf at the end of the epic. Wiglaf himself states, “ I remember that time when mead was flowing, how we pledged loyalty to our lord in the hall, promised our ring-giver we would be worth our price…” (46 as translated by Burton Raffel). This, as integral of a line as it seems, is overshadowed by Beowulf’s final words before he loses his life. “You are the last of us, the only one left of the Waegmundings. Fate swept us away, sent my whole brave high-born clan to their final doom” (48 as translated by Burton Raffel). This line resonates sensation, as it portrays Beowulf (even on his deathbed) as the great warrior who never gave in to existential temptations, and remained loyal to his