Examples Of Masculinity In Beowulf

Beowulf the Inartificial Man

Over the course of history, the righteous identity of masculinity has been tainted by the stereotypical profile that is governed by machoism. These stereotypes eliminate any emotions, activities, and beliefs that exhibit weakness. These stereotypes cause men to seek unrelenting physical strength, a mind of iron, and isolation. However, these are only stereotypes, a man is something much more than attempting to live their life as a masquerade. A perfect example of a man following this mockery of masculinity is the title character hailing from the epic Beowulf. Beowulf is an overwhelmingly powerful individual who boasts of his valor, honor, and strength. In the epic, Beowulf takes on tremendous challenges that

he brought upon himself through his vainglorious personality. In the epic, Beowulf fits all of the classic stereotypes associated with men in modern society; however, the topic regarding Beowulf’s masculinity is highly controversial. Stereotypical traits should not govern masculinity therefore, Beowulf is in fact not a real man; utilizing a poem written by Rudyard Kipling and a Ted talk presented by Connor Beaton, Beowulf's manhood will be unveiled and shattered in a new light.
In Kipling's poem ”If” he portrays the true essence of a man as someone who is modest.

Being a man is not as effortless as fitting the stereotypes that society associates a true man with. Such stereotypes are being dominant, controlling, and valorous. Throughout the poem, Kipling makes it a focal point that a man does not dwell, boast, nor sulk. Kipling shatters this modern stereotype of men and re-illustrates what a real man is in his poem. For instance, Kipling states, “if you can keep your head when all about you / Are losing theirs and blaming it on you” (Kipling 1-2). Kipling claims that a true man will not lose his composure no matter the situation even if all around him begin to point their fingers, a real man will maintain his righteous identity despite others trying to tarnish it. Furthermore, Kipling illustrates that a man does not dwell on his failures. For example, Kipling claims that men will “lose, and start again at your beginnings / And never breathe a word about your loss” (Kipling 19-20). Kipling believes that a man will not allow a loss to interfere with the future and will tread on without sulking. In other words, a man will maintain his face and obligations no matter what’s lost. Lastly, Kipling heavily implies that a true man does not boast of his success, by way of example, Kipling states that men “don't look too good, nor talk too wise” (Kipling 8). In modern society a vast majority of men if not all men love to boast of their wealth, intelligence,

and success. Kipling’s vision of masculinity represents the polar opposite of the stereotypical concept of what a man is. Kipling believes that men should not dress flashy nor should they speak more than necessary. Thus, Kipling delivers his vision of a true man as someone who resembles the absolute epitome of modesty.
Not only should a man be modest, but they must also not be afraid of being true to themselves. Throughout the presentation, Beaton emphasizes that a true man disobeys the machoistic stereotypes and lives life as who are they are: as men. These stereotypes have forced men to withhold their creativity and emotions. For instance, when Beaton was recalling an incident that occurred to him as young boy when he sang the national anthem he claimed that he was assaulted by another boy who then told him after striking him down, “don't be such a bitch singing is for girls” (Beaton 4:49-4:52). Beaton only sought out to do what he loved; however, since machoism diminishes anything feminine he was assaulted for being a “bitch”. Connor Beaton gives several examples of how this “Need to dominate others and be a lone wolf… crushes men” (Beaton 5.29-5.41). These artificial stereotypes spearheaded by society drive men to total isolation and depression. As a result, “men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women” (Beaton 9:12-9:15). This machoistic vision of masculinity directs men to believe that they must take on any challenge by themselves. Eventually, these men tormented by this machoistic profile end up taking their own life from the overwhelming stress and or end up finding themselves in their death bed alone and depressed; shattered by the unbeatable challenges they took on as a lone wolf. Therefore, Connor’s vision of masculinity is the polar opposite of the inartificial sense of machoism: true men wear their own masks not the mask forces upon them.
In the light of masculinity, after exploring both the visions of what a man is from Rudyard Kipling’s and Connor Beaton’s perspectives attempting to apply the traits to Beowulf proved to be impossible.

In comparison with Kipling’s vision of masculinity Beowulf’s so called manhood falls short as he goes against all of the traits associated with Kipling’s vision of masculinity. For instance, in the aforementioned quote Kipling states that men should not boast of their success: yet Beowulf constantly screams of his honor, strength, success and much more. By way of example, as Beowulf and his lackeys are marching through the town the narrator describes their attire by stating “ glittering at the top of/ their golden helmets wild boar heads gleamed/ shining decorations”(Beowulf. Raffel 214-216). In this scene, Beowulf dresses far too flashy drawing a ton of attention to himself, his appearance boasts of his success and screams of his valor. As opposed to, Kipling who believes that a man should maintain his righteous identity through modesty. By the same token, Beowulf also states that he has “never known fear” (Beowulf. Raffel 624). This statement is a parallel to what Kipling believes as he claims that men should not talk too wise; yet here Beowulf is speaking straight out of his vainglorious personality demonstrating the exact opposite of modesty. Comparing to Connor Beaton’s profile of masculinity Beowulf also fails to match the traits associated with being a real man. Beaton

claims that a true man is the polar opposite of machoism. Unfortunately, Beowulf represents the absolute epitome of machoism, his sense to take on gruesome challenges on his own strips his masculinity away from him. As an illustration, of Beowulf’s machoistic characteristics, when Beowulf is being tormented by the dragon Wiglaf states that “he meant to kill/ this monster himself” (Beowulf. Raffel 754-755). Connor Beaton claims that this mask of masculinity causes men to be a lone wolf and clearly on several occasions Beowulf has taken on impossible challenges by himself which unfortunately lead him to his demise. Connor Beaton believes that real men will be themselves and Beowulf lives as a warrior, as a masquerade, and as his father’s son. Thus Beowulf has never truly been himself as he was too concerned with maintaining his fame and honor; as a payment for such desires, Beowulf sacrificed his manhood.
Altogether, after utilizing both sources to classify what masculinity truly is; Beowulf represents the parallel of what a man is. A man embodies the values of modesty and being sincere to oneself. Consequently, Beowulf abandoned his manhood through his vainglorious personality and his desire to be a lone wolf. As a result of Beowulf seeking to fulfill the stereotypes of what a man is, his foolhardy attempt of being a man spearheads him directly to his demise. Thus, Beowulf will be forever marked down in history as a sure shot example as the masquerade of masculinity.