Motivation In Beowulf

Motivations

(The analysis of Beowulf’s motivations for his actions.) “Feeling important makes one heavy, clumsy, and vain. To be a warrior one needs to be light and fluid,” Carlos Castaneda. For the Angelo Saxon Warriors, “Fighting was a way of life, and not to avenge the death of a family member was a social disgrace, so endlessly intricate blood-feuds generated perpetual excuses for going to war.” (Mursell, Gordon, 1997)These people believed they must work together to fight, not one individual is more powerful. Beowulf learned this later, his first two battles he fought alone, but he soon realized he could not do it alone, he needed help. He received a lot of the glory; however, he had much help. He was a true leader and warrior, because in the end he died for his people. In the epic of Beowulf, Beowulf has three main motivations for his actions. The first motivation that Beowulf has is the action to gain glory; also, because he feels it is his duty. Gory is praise, or being thought of in a good way; duty means

Beowulf as he walks in, to talk to the King of the Danes, tells him of what we would call today as a resume. Instead of writing it all down, he tells the King of all his accomplishments, and talks of his families’ legacy. This shows that Beowulf has much respect for the king and how he presents himself is important. Beowulf wants to do his duty and create a lasting legacy, “Legacy-building is about the big picture. It focuses us on the long term and gives us values by which we can judge our actions. If you are in a role of power and influence, who will you pass it on to? Do you believe this is a responsibility of leadership?” (McElroy, Ken, 2014) It is not going to be easy, but he believes he can do it, and he does. At the end of the epic, they build a tower for him, that they look at every day and talk of his many accomplishments he had. He created the ideal legacy with his