Jesus the Warrior in The Dream of the Rood

The image of Jesus nailed to a wooden cross by the palms of his hands and with a crown of thorns wrapped around his head is one that has transcended all time barriers. It has inclusive been replicated into figure form that is utilized in various ways but whose primary function is to serve as a constant reminder of the physical suffering endured by Jesus. In The Dream of the Rood however, the perception of Jesus Christ as not only the son of God and savior of mankind but also as a human with the capacity to feel pain, is subverted when through the perspective of a personified cross he is conveyed as a warrior in the midst of combat. The portrayal of Jesus in this way immediately evokes the image of an ideal stereotypical hero who is strong, courageous, and unrelenting in appearance. Nevertheless, it can be said that this type of hero is more inclined towards fantasy than it is based on reality because these idealized heroic figures have only ever truly existed in a fictional universe. The depiction of Jesus as a warrior thus, undermines forms of heroism that stem from explicit suffering that is not concealed but rather expressed by the individual.

In the text, Jesus is made out to be a warrior in a literal manner in order to accentuate his act of heroism. Although it can be argued that Jesus was in fact a warrior, this argument is only valid if speaking in figurative terms since being a warrior and fighting in battles was not his profession. Jesus is first identified as a warrior during a particular moment when the cross observes as, “[…] the young Hero stripped himself—[…]God Almighty—strong and stouthearted. He climbed on the high gallows bold in the sight of many when he would free mankind” (28). By referring to Jesus as a “h...

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...eying these emotions. It is the expression these emotions that is mistaken for weakness. However, while it is true that warriors for the most part are viewed as heroic figures, it is not the armor or the seemingly courageous appearance that they put up in front of a crowd that defines them as heroes. The way that Jesus is presented in the bible does not make him any less of a hero when compared to the way he is portrayed in the poem. It is the action and motive behind the action that ultimately determines who is heroic.

Works Cited

• Greenblatt, Stephen, and M. H. Abrams. "The Dream of The Rood." The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 8th ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006. 27-29. Print.

• Mark. The Holy Bible. The New King James Version ed. Thomas Nelson, 1985. Print.

• Mathew. The Holy Bible. The New King James Version ed. Thomas Nelson, 1985. Print.