Respecting Morals In Beowulf And Common Sense By Thomas Paine

Navneet Kumar

Respected Morals

Many poems have hidden messages for readers to eventually understand. Poems also try to explain when a person is changing, either from good to bad or vice versa. Take for example in Common Sense by Thomas Paine; he argues for American independence and shows that people should be fighting for what they believe is right, their morals. He does not just talk about how strong people can fight for independence. The epic Beowulf is not just depicting a typical warrior saving the day, but that the whole poem is based off morals that define characters while affecting its plot line.

Everyday people have to face danger, and they have to show off some type of bravery. Bravery is a huge factor for the characters in Beowulf,

including Beowulf himself. He is the protagonist that is not afraid to fight for his king and the good of his people, “The fact is, Unferth, if you were truly/ as keen and courageous as you/ claim to be/ Grendel would never have got away with/ such unchecked/ atrocity, attacks on your king,/ havoc in Heorot and horrors everywhere" (Beowulf 590-594). Beowulf had a strong but friendly relationship toward King Hrothgar’s kingdom, where Beowulf was challenging Unferth. He wanted to know how much effort Unferth was putting in to protect the king. Courage is a factor of bravery and without it there would be nothing to stand up to, “So. The Spear-Danes in days gone by/ and the kings who ruled them had/ courage and greatness./ We have heard of those princes' heroic campaigns” (1-3). These first few lines from the beginning of the poem are describing how the poem will turn out to be. Everyone must face challenges like losing one’s dear to them, and for that they must show bravery. For some cases of bravery, one might not even let destiny choose what is in store for them, “Often, for undaunted courage,/ fate spares the man it has not already marked" (572-573). In these lines, Beowulf is trying to explain that if you are not already targeted by someone, then they are spared, allowing them to show off their brave features. Throughout the poem, bravery is shown for those who believe they can fight for what they believe is right.
Without honor in an epic poem, there seems to be no purpose to show which characters care deeply for the people around them, or to show respect for their kingdom. Honor in the middle ages was a big deal. This determines if you have gained the the trust of your people, "What happened, Lord Hygelac, is hardly a secret /any more among men /in this world—/ myself and Grendel coming to grips/ on the very spot where he visited destruction/ on the Victory-Shieldings and violated/ life and limb,…” (2000-2005). Beowulf is telling his king his adventure of the other kingdom he was in recently, gaining the trust and honor from King Hrethel. Another example of honor is shown through the respect of a dear king’s death, “They stretched their beloved lord in his boat,/ laid out by the mast, amid ships,/ the great ring-giver. Far-fetched treasures/ were piled upon him, and precious gear” (34-37). The knights of Shield Sheafson are giving their respect and honor for being the best king he could ever be. Honor is also shown through the weirdest situations as well, such as boasting:
I had a fixed purpose when I put to sea. / As I sat in the boat with my band of men, / I meant to perform to the uttermost/ what your people wanted or perish in the attempt,/ in the fiend's clutches. And I shall fulfill that purpose,/ prove myself with a proud deed/ or meet my death here in the mead-hall. (632-638)
Beowulf is trying to impress Queen Wealhtheow by showing his honor in a boastful manner. He wants the Kingdom of Danes to understand that he is there for them, ready to fight. As honor is shown, characters seem to gain a better relationship with the people around them.
Money determines what kind of person one is or what they will become. To have wealth back in the Middle Ages determined your class and where you were placed in society. Some wealth would have been rewarded for good deeds, or it could make one greedy. Money is a symbol for determining one’s position in society, “…treasures/ were piled upon him, and precious gear. / I never heard before of a ship so well furbished/ with battle tackle, bladed weapons/ and coats of mail. The massed treasure/ was loaded on top of him: it would travel far...” (36-42). When Shield Sheafson was dead, he was gifted with his own wealth when preparing to cremate him on his ship. Another example of position from wealth would be how luxurious of a life one lives, “They marched in step,/ hurrying on till the timbered hall/ rose before them, radiant with gold./ Nobody on earth knew of another/ building like it./ Majesty lodged there,/ its light shone over many lands” (306-311). The king’s walls were decorated with gold, showing that they had a wealthy and luxurious kingdom compared to all other kingdoms. They were showing their superiority over others. Money is also used for making up with others, "Finally I healed the feud by paying:/ I shipped a treasure to the Wulfings/ and Ecgtheow acknowledged me with oaths of allegiance" (470-472). In Beowulf’s society, it was important to make bonds with other tribes, so that they can make alliances. As one’s wealth increases, it shows how much more superior they are to others.
Good and evil seemed to judge what side one would take.

Some would fight for what they believe is right, such as their king, their society, and themselves while others take the bad side and lost themselves by being controlled. In some situations, men show that they would do anything for a great, respectful king, “In the end each clan on the outlying coasts/ beyond the whale-road had to/ yield to him/ and began to pay tribute. That was one good king” (9-11). Men understood that if a king died fighting evil to protect what is good (in this case the king’s people) then they will show their gratitude by thanking him after his death. The one’s that took the side of evil had no way of turning back, “So times were pleasant for the people there/ until finally one, a fiend out/ of hell,/ began to work his evil in the world” (99-101). In this line, one of the antagonists, Grendel, is being described as the one who took the side of evil, coming to destroy all that comes in his way, showing no mercy. There are those that show that they will fight for good no matter what, such as Beowulf:

I had a fixed purpose when I put to sea./ As I sat in the boat with my band of men,/ I meant to perform to the uttermost/ what your/ people wanted or perish in the attempt,/ in the fiend's clutches. And/ I shall fulfill that purpose,/ prove myself with a proud deed/ or meet my death here in the mead-hall.

(632-638)
Beowulf chooses to fight till his death for the protection of the Danish people and the king’s mead hall. As good and evil come through one’s life, the decision to choose which is right may sometimes be difficult.
Having faith in god represents a person’s everyday life.

Without god, society in the middle ages did not have a purpose for living. In Beowulf’s society, god and faith determines if the person will live or not, “Whichever one death fells/ must deem it a just judgment by God” (440-441). God determines if one will live, depending on the deeds they commit. During battle, talking about god was natural, “No need then/ to lament for long or lay out my body:/ if the battle take/ me, send back/ this breast-webbing that Weland fashioned/ and Hrethel/ gave me, to Lord Hygelac./ Fate goes ever as fate must" (450-455). Men believe that fate decides if they will survive the battle or not, and this is significant because men put their whole faith into god and trust the “Almighty” with all of their life. When a man commits a bad deed, people believe that god shall determine what outcome this person must face, “Like a man outlawed/ for wickedness, he must await/ the mighty judgment of God in majesty" (976-978). If a person is to show disloyalty or make wrong decisions, they are punished in the name of god. With god and fate used throughout a person’s everyday life, they do not have any regrets in putting their faith into

Him.
Beowulf is portraying to the audience that there is more than just a mere warrior at duty. The poem is shown to have many morals. For bravery, Beowulf must show that he can take on any beast at any time. In honor, men give their full attention to their superiors to show respect and gain trust. With wealth, a person classifies themselves in their position to show that their kingdom lives a luxurious life. When choosing between good and evil, it is harder than one thinks because of what you gain at the end (such as going into the dragon’s layer for gold). God is also shown throughout a man’s everyday life as a significant figure. In today’s world, it is difficult to find a society or person to have many complex values.