Macbeth And Beowulf Comparison Essay

Monsters Inside Us

When I think about the question which epic character do you think you relate most to, Macbeth or Beowulf? The first thing that goes through my head is whether I am a person who likes to bring people down in order to climb the ladder to my success, or if I will work on getting there by bettering myself and not having to bring people down with me. Macbeth and Beowulf may be similar, they had goals and ambitions. They wanted to reach their goals so desperately, but what separated these gentlemen was the way they would reach their success. Like Beowulf, I had monsters to fight as well; we both used our ambition and bravery to fight these monsters all on our own. We did not need to bring people down to fight these monsters or to prove anything, we fought these monsters to prove a point to only one person, and that was ourselves. Many people did not believe in us but we still fought anyway.

Having just enough ambition is what will drive people to be great and do great. Ambition is what makes us accomplish things without backing down until we get to where we want to be. Beowulf not once ever doubted himself, he did consider that things could happen but he had the upmost confidence that he would

win every battle. I have never had the confidence that I wish I could, in fact I never believed in myself but that is what caused me to do better and be better I wanted to prove to myself what I was capable of, I wanted to prove that I could fight my demons. “They have seen my strength for themselves; have watched me rise from the darkness of war, dripping with my enemies’ blood…” (Beowulf 48). Many of the Danes did not believe Beowulf was capable of accomplishing this mission, they did not believe in him but he knew that he was capable of such a challenge so he went on to do it.
Bravery is another characteristic that connects Beowulf and I. I may not have the confidence that he does but if there is one thing for sure, it is that we are willing to accept and challenge no matter how difficult they may be. In life, I have been thrown many obstacles; many of these obstacles I thought I would never get through but I did because I never gave up no matter how much I wanted to. Beowulf was the same in the epic poem because he knew some of these monsters were difficult, he knew there was a possibility with each and every one of them that he possibly would not defeat them but instead be defeated by them, but he still went on. “I’ve never known fear, as a youth I’ve fought endless battles” (Beowulf 56). Beowulf and I both have faced challenges as youths and even still in today’s day. We both have had tough times but what made us brave and what was important was being able to keep our heads up and not give up. We had the experience and the ambition to fight our demons no matter how tough it would be.
My whole life I have felt alone so I learned to be on my own. Every problem and obstacle that came along, I dealt with on my own. The only person I knew could depend on was I. I worked to get to where I knew I needed to be. It was difficult, no part of it was easy at all but I knew what I needed to do for myself so I did it even if I had no support and even if no one believed in me, I tried to believe in myself. Beowulf’s fights got harder each time, there was always a demon out their stronger than the last but it did not fear him or push him away, in fact it made him want to take on the challenge even more. “I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in his tower dares to face me…No one else could do what I mean to here, no man but me could hope to defeat this monster. No one could try” (Beowulf 57). Only Beowulf dared to take on these challenges and never did he request or expect help, he knew he would be the only one brave enough to face this monster. Just like myself, I knew that the only person who could fight away my monsters was me.
Like Beowulf, my ambition and my bravery are what got me to where I am today.

Although Beowulf gets killed, he did it being brave, and he did it working hard to destroy the monster who he accomplished to slay. These characteristics are important to have in order to accomplish things in life. I have only accomplished some of the many things that I wish to in life but I still have along way to go and someday I will be able to say that I made it and that I worked hard to get to where I’ll be. Many people would not picture that they have such a common life to that of character from an epic poem but I know Beowulf and I relate a lot. We both face demons and we fight them to rid them of the pain and suffering they bring, bringing peace and pride into our own

lives.