Women In Beowulf

1837 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Roles of women in beowulf

Ashley Scott
Professor Larson
LITR405
31 August 2014 Women Held an Important Role too
The noble King of Danes is furious with a demon that has been killing all of his men. To avenge the deaths of his great knights he awaits the arrival of the well-known, strong, and prideful Beowulf to save his kingdom. Beowulf then arrives and kills the demon Grendel that has been bringing such tragedy to his land. Not long after his slaying of Grendel, does his mother seek great revenge upon him, which she fails him. Finally, Beowulf becomes king of the land after defeating both of the demons. Even though men held an important role in Beowulf, women seemed to be represented with little strength, but the women during this time proved otherwise. Beowulf: …show more content…

The men state they have the ability to change, especially Thryth, being descendent of the king, if they choose to. These statements all support the women did as they chose, not because they had to “or else”, not slaves but free will as the men. The only characteristic difference was the men fought in strength of body, whereas the women fought with strength of love, loyalty, peace and family values. These are critical values and characteristics for the women of Beowulf, without them there would be disorder, death and other dreadful consequences. To perceive these women of Beowulf in the other light, they were dominated by men, and expected to fulfill their roles in society. By not doing so they became exiled from society and not accepted anymore. They were expected to either make peace or act in a royal way, upholding promises made by the men. The women for the most part were passive, obeying and following in men’s shadows. When any dared to become aggressive, independent, they could and sometimes did become a …show more content…

After considering the times and how society filled and expected roles as today’s society chooses rules and laws, the women were merely filling and carrying out their position in society. Just as today’s women a few women mentioned show they are individualized and will not choose to follow what society expects. The following suggests that Beowulf were not slaves or subservient, rather they were their own person and chose freely. These women and their positions were vital to their tribes and the success or failure of their positions was imperative for their people to

Show More
Related

  • We Have Always Lived In The Castle Gender Roles Essay

    894 Words  | 2 Pages

    But even through a gap of almost 1,200 years, we see in We Have Always Lived in the Castle, written in the 1960’s, that the views of women having a say in the community is a minority, and not everyone agrees. Yes, there has been some sort of progress in women’s right, from 800 AD, alike in Beowulf, a person who wants revenge on her son’s death, is considered a hell-bride, but in the mid 1900’s, it would receive a little bit of a less negative reaction. But in both in Beowulf and We Have Always Lived in the Castle men are considered the ruler of them family, well at least until Merricat kills everybody. In my opinion, Merricat’s way of looking the hierarchy of gender, is different of having women in control, that symbolizes that idea that began as a minute topic in the time period of the 1960’s, and has expanded into the situation of women’s role of

    Read More

  • Comparing the Role of Women in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

    533 Words  | 2 Pages

    The women in Beowulf are barely discussed and seem to exist solely for the use of the men. They are weak and portray none of the legendary qualities that the men display. Wealhtheow, the Queen of Danes and Hrothgar's wife, is the only female character in the epic that talks. In a speech to her husband, we are able to see that she is a strong woman, who is able to speak her mind. She tells the king that it is good that he adopted Beowulf, but reminds him that he already has two sons. However, her speech is made while she carries the drinking goblet to all of the men in the room, "Wealhtheow came in,/ Hrothgar's queen, observing the courtesies./ Adorned in her gold, she graciously handed the cup first to Hrothgar, their homeland's guardian,/ urging him to drink deep and enjoy it because he was dear to them" (612-618). When she is given the opportunity to talk, she only praises the men and plays a role defined by their society.

    Read More

  • Women in Beowulf and Arthurian Legend

    1281 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Beowulf, there are two main categories of women. The first category is women who are bound by arranged marriages. This was often used in an attempt to create peace -- although this approach often failed, it is no fault of the women. Beowulf's own parents had an arranged marriage, although it was not an attempt to make peace. Other women mentioned in Beowulf include Hildeburh and Freawaru. Hildeburh of the Danes was sent to marry Finn, the king of the Jutes and Frisians. Finn's men killed Hildeburh's brother, Hnaef, despite the newfound peace gained by the marriage. Her tale ends in tragedy even though she was supposed to bring and end to the feud between the two countrie...

    Read More

  • Why Is Grendel's Mother Portrayed In Beowulf

    960 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is because of these allusions to Cain that Grendel 's mother is worded in such an unholy image, and it is because of this unholy image that Beowulf is able to give himself the power of a normal human to superhuman. With the defeat of Grendel and his mother, Beowulf rises to a God-like figure throughout the land as he also sees himself being a God. By using Grendel 's mother as the trophy which gains Beowulf his superhero like status, the author is also giving a warning to all women, not to test man’s power. Beowulf is not just a story it’s history. Through its characters and the plot summary of the story the author reveals what society was at the time. Men were strong, women were weak. Honor and courage brought heroism, and heroism brought power. It 's not just an expression of opinion of Beowulf 's time, however, but a reflection of the world we live in today. Women have a different grasp in today’s society, a more powerful grasp. Consider the women are still subjugated by their husbands, or the women in politics who must work twice as hard to prove herself. Consider double

    Read More

  • Loyalty In Beowulf's Honor

    886 Words  | 2 Pages

    Today Beowulf can be relevant in society. A good leader can be further seen in a political process. Throughout the poem, similarities between personal relationships then and now are evident. Disloyalty within a family, murder caused by jealousy, and marriage for the wrong reasons are all themes in Beowulf. Today’s shows like soap operas reveal that little has changed. We live in a technology advanced world with sophisticated machinery but yet human nature has remained the same unchanged. Corruption, greed, and jealousy exist today as does courage, bravery, and

    Read More

  • The Epic Of Grendel's Metaphamental Monsters In Beowulf

    1017 Words  | 3 Pages

    Beowulf outlines turmoil between three opponents: Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the Dragon. These separate discords each serve to fulfill different metaphoric purposes. Grendel’s character epitomizes the adverse persona of how an Anglo-Saxon warrior should not be. His mother represents everything that a woman during the time era should seldom be. Lastly, the Dragon embodies all the values that an Anglo-Saxon king should not dare retain. Without a doubt, the symbolic implications of the monsters in Beowulf bring the context to a new level of understanding.

    Read More

  • Anglo-Saxon Women: Objects or Individuals?

    1115 Words  | 3 Pages

    Anglo-Saxon women are objects who are gifts to generate a fragile peace. Bloody combat between men attempting to earn fame embodies the Anglo-Saxon era. But does history include women? No, in fact, most women in the epic poem Beowulf are unworthy of even a name. Men trap women as objects; those who rebel become infamous monsters in society’s eyes. Because Anglo-Saxon men view women as objects, they are unable to control any aspect of their lives--no matter if she is royalty or the lowest of all mothers.

    Read More

  • A Summary of Beowulf

    983 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beowulf begins with a history of the Danish kings. Hrothgar is the present king of the Danes. He builds a hall, called Heorot, to house his army. The Danish soldiers gather under its roof to celebrate and have fellowship with each other. Grendel, who lives at the bottom of a nearby swamp, is awakened and disgusted by the singing of Hrothgar's men. He comes to the hall late one night and kills thirty of the warriors in their sleep. For the next twelve years Grendel stalks the mead hall known as Heorot.

    Read More

  • Women In Beowulf

    1479 Words  | 3 Pages

    With any great society, there is a strong and invincible structure supporting it. This structure is made up of various factors and variables that when added up together equal something much grander than ever imagined. No matter how microscopic the part is presumed to be, anything can drastically alter the course of time and the people involved. One example of this is the Anglo-Saxon society that is ever present in the literary work Beowulf. Throughout the epic the strong sense of community and brotherhood are present; yet, one very important aspect of their world is swept under the rug and undermined. This would be, of course, the favorable effect women have in the society and how their roles, although presumed by many as minute and insignificant,

    Read More

  • Beowulf Character Analysis

    645 Words  | 2 Pages

    Anglo-Saxon men have a heroic code and believe that only through great deeds of honor and bravery and strength will they be able to live forever because they will still be talked about even after death. They believe in fate, wyrd. They are patriarchal and patrilineal, and they place importance on who their father was. Beowulf, for example, goes to the Danes to help out Hrothgar because his father owed Hrothgar a debt. Men in their culture are the sons of their fathers. Male characters dominate Beowulf. On the other hand, there are only six female characters of importance in the epic poem, and they can be grouped as three sets of two, another rule of three. The first group, Wealhtheow and Hygd, are queens and hostesses, and they distribute mead cups in to their respective kings and warriors. They do not have any real political power, but they can attempt to further their interests through words, and their wishes may or may not be granted. The second group, Hildeburh and Freawaru, are peaceweavers, meaning that their job is to make peace by being a link between two peoples through marriage. Being married off furthers the interests of their people. The third group, Grendel's Mother and Thryth, are monstrous women, and they contrast ...

    Read More

  • The Role of Women in Beowulf

    1635 Words  | 4 Pages

    The women characters in Beowulf show that during the time period in which this was written, the roles of women were clearly defined. While, the author's views on women may never be fully revealed, it is made apparent that he believes in male superiority, and disobedient females ought to be suppressed. Like Wealhtheow, females were to exert minimal power and influence, but should always keep the drinks coming.

    Read More

  • How Did Beowulf Change Throughout The Renaissance Era

    777 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beowulf was able to remain loyal even when odds against him. Beowulf did not turn into a coward in his fear he was able to remain solid and ultimately come out on top. Beowulf was also able to be independent and self sufficient when it was only him whom was the last man standing i think this further accentuates why Beowulf was so strong and able to be reliable towards himself. In the end Beowulf ultimately was successful in his mission .Women and men equal rights wasn't equal . Women right was not good at all women didn't do as much as the male figure. Did back then they worked as teachers ,brucher and others things to manage women rights wasn't right . They stood on a footing perfect equality of a men . Most women Suffrage Was the rebirth of women rights

    Read More

  • Beowulf: The Anglo-Saxon Ideals

    583 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout any society, the members all have an image of a person that would be considered perfect. That person would follow a certain set of values that are admired by its people. In the viking culture, Anglo-Saxons searched for someone who was selfless, possessing the ability to put others needs above their own. Someone who was also brave enough to face any challenge that came their way no matter the outcome. Above all, they yearned for some one stronger and mightier than the rest. Someone with impeccable strength to protect and fight for them. The author is able to portray the Anglo-Saxons ideals through the main character, Beowulf’s, actions.

    Read More

  • Research Paper On Beowulf

    523 Words  | 2 Pages

    Some aspects of the story were very close to the life of the common man during that time. The main principle of this story was righteousness, even though Beowulf is not perfect he strives to be the best he can possibly be. He didn’t let his power corrupt him, nor did he take advantage of anyone. Beowulf travels to land far and wide to prove his strength is superior to that of the many foul beats that prowl the lands. When Beowulf hears what happened in Hrothgar he request permission from his king to go and provide assistance. He learns that there is a troll-like monster named Grendel who has been terrorizing the village. Beowulf and his men spend the night in Heorot waiting for Grendel to show, when Grendel enters the hall they start battling. Beowulf ends up tearing Grendel’s arm off, then returns to the swamp to die. The day after Grendel’s mother is furious about the death of her son and sets out for revenge, she kills Æschere, who is Hrothgar's best fighter. Beowulf and his men track her to a lake. He dives in, finding her in the bottom of the lake in a cavern. They begin fighting, Grendel’s mother has the upper hand dew to his sword not affecting

    Read More

  • Female Characters In Beowulf

    1143 Words  | 3 Pages

    All through the historical backdrop of writing, female characters are frequently side characters that don't get much acknowledgment from readers. Male roles are what we see most and what we read about. In the epic of “Beowulf”, we see the action between Beowulf and three monsters to save Heorot. We see the heroism and the male comitatus of this warrior and king. However, the women in this epic are highly overlooked. Three noteworthy women assume essential parts all through the epic: Wealhtheow, Hildeurh, and Grendel’s mother. These women fascinate, bring peace, and renounce societal desires of the female sexual role, either straightforwardly, or in a roundabout way. The epic of “Beowulf” represents three notable parts for the ladies in the society: the queen, the peace-weaver, and the monster.

    Read More

More about Women In Beowulf

Open Document