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, …show more content…
play a major part in how the story unfolds. The women of Beowulf demonstrate their crucial roles and the positive impact they make with their words, actions, and attire. First, the women of Beowulf exhibit their vital role in society and their positive impact on society with their words. Throughout this time period, women did not have a much of a voice, but in this tale when one speaks, a thousand words can be conveyed in just a sentence alone. The key to the power in the Anglo-Saxon women’s words is not the extent but the calculated strength put into it. A favorable example of this is Hrothgar’s wife, Wealtheow. Throughout the epic, she rarely speaks, but each time she speaks it is with “measured words” and truly defines the role all women play (Line 625). When Wealtheow first utters a sound, she shows just how influential she can be. Her words, of course, end up benefiting the men of her time make the best decisions possible. A women's first obligation in Anglo-Saxon society is to serve her husband and sustain peace among the nations. When Wealtheow welcomes Beowulf, she does so in a certain manner in order to maintain the proper relationship between her husband and the men he becomes acquainted with. She never allows herself to say too much or too little when greeting guests in order for her husband’s business or affairs to run smoothly. She does this with Beowulf in order to ensure the service he offers to rid them of Grendel and guarantee the well-being and safekeeping of her people. As Jane Chance states in her book Woman as Hero in Old English Literature, Wealtheow holds the job of insuring the bonds among the men. If women do not welcome guests into their kingdoms and allow them to feel at ease, the chances of treaties being made or pacts being honored would most likely be no existent. Wealtheow demonstrates another important trait of women when she reminds her husband of his possessions and his offspring and that although he should honor Beowulf he must think of his duties first (1172-1173).
This shows how women have to step up and become the voice of reason in times of need. Hrothgar in this point of the epic is too overwhelmed with emotion, and perhaps even mead, to think wisely and with reason. This makes the duty of women to think rationally all the more imperative. This also shows the motherly instincts that all Anglo-Saxon women have for their children. Wealtheow is not only protecting the future of her kingdom but also the future of her sons. She does not worry for second if she is speaking out of term, but speaks freely and also in a way with careful and measured words that allow the men to believe their decisions are all their own. This could also be the reason for the women's words to not be viewed as the powerful and influential voices that they are. Hrothgar never doubts Wealtheow’s reasoning proving that he values her opinion and genuinely considers her point of view. Her words, along with the words of all women in Beowulf, make a positive influence on …show more content…
society. Next, the women of Beowulf further establish their crucial role and the constructive impact they make in society with their actions.
Anglo-Saxon women weaved peace among the kingdoms around them. The most vital peace, though, that women must maintain is inside their own kingdom. When Wealtheow offers the goblet to all ranks in the hall she is not simply replenishing their thirst. She is in a way calming the fears any of the men may have or any strifes that may arise (622). An action like this can also be seen as a way for the Queen to revive the spirits of the men and remind them what they are fighting for. These actions show the men that their king cares about them. Every minuscule action performed is done to strengthen the bond of the men and weave peace among them and warrants the diplomatic relations amongst them (Harris). No expense is spared in order to please the lord’s men (1929-1930). As a peaceweaver, or freothuwebe, the women aid in the efforts of rising warrior moral and preserving tranquility among them. They each honor the lives of each and every
man. Haereth's daughter, another woman in Beowulf that makes a major difference in how events play out, provides herself as a cup-bearer as an act of loyalty toward the kingdom she so proudly is a part of. If she did not do the actions she does when welcoming the great hero Beowulf back, then Beowulf's sense of pride or urge to gelp would be somewhat nonexistent. No pride can be found if one is not showered with gifts or compliments after a conquest (1025). Like all heroes, a sense of being rewarded for their accomplishments and reinforcing the comitatus is a necessary act that allows the hero's confidence and pride to remain high so they can later fight in battles for the women’s lordship. Every time Haereth's daughter or Wealtheow allow a drop of mead to land in a soldier's cup, each is ensuring that that soldier will remain committed and devoted to the men the kings they serve. In addition to this, the women also aid in settting the rankings among the men. Another aspect taken into consideration when discussing the action of Anglo-Saxon women is that of authority. To ponder the conception that perhaps the women of Beowulf had perhaps another reasoning behind their cup sharing than just upholding peace. Like any great man, there are always people standing behind him supporting him as he rules. As the women went about the hall and greeted men, they also subtly established the ranking among the people. They did this by who she allowed to take a sip of mead first. A clear case of this is when Beowulf is allowed to drink before others and praised with gifts that he has been promoted in rank in Wealtheow’s eyes (1230-1231). Any actions such as this is a clear indicator of female authority and the power they held over all. Finally, the women of Beowulf show their value and the positive impact they make in Anglo-Saxon society with their attire. With any pronounced women, there requires an even greater wardrobe. Throughout numerous forms of literature, the garments a character wears can immensely affect the way others view them. Just like the guard instantly identifies Beowulf as a great soldier merely by his armor, am Anglo-Saxon women’s rank and status can easily be determined by what she wears(247-249). Having such a status symbol, such as a well-dressed women, shows everyone who has the most authority and holds the most influence; yet, it also gives off the impression of prosperity. During a time when ring-giving is a highly acclaimed ritual, the men saw the gold the women wore as motivation that if they devote themselves to the king and lay their lives on the line they may be rewarded. To have a queen “decked out in rings” was a constant reminder to the men of the wealth that awaits them all for their service (622). This significantly resulted in the men being more loyal to their kings. With a bond that is continually reinforced, there is no doubt that the women abetted with assuring the fate of the kingdoms they lived in. In conclusion, it is apparent that the women of Beowulf have undeniably affected the society they live in. Without them, the world of Beowulf and the story that unravels around a fearless hero would be all but unrecognizable. Treaties made in the hopes of peace would be mere concepts used of in legends. No longer would men be willing to die for a man merely because he says he holds the power. Women are the backbone of Anglo-Saxon society. Without their lovely faces as the emblem of hope and prosperity, kingdoms would feel the drastic change and the absent sense of what is morally right and what is wrong.
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
The confines of structure, in which the poems are written, parallel the confines of society that these two women inhabit. Beowulf presents a more restricted society for women; the actual passage itself is set up to reinforce the ideology that women’s power alone is ineffective. Before Wealhtheow begins her speech, the poet introduces her, “Then Wealhtheow pronounced in the presence of the company” (Beowulf l 1215). This device is used not only to introduce her to the reader, but also to reinforce her presence as the Queen. Instead of just inviting her to speak, it ironically undermines her authority and magnifies the need of intervention on someone else’s part. This frames Wealhtheow’s power as ineffective, because she needs someone else to command attention for her to speak, and is not able to command that attention on her own. Even after the end of her speech, the poet feels the need to follow up with a few lines of his own by saying, “...
As an epic tale of heroes and monsters, Beowulf gives its readers much excitement and adventure, but Beowulf's importance is more than just literary. It offers many insights into the beliefs and customs of seventh-century Anglo-Saxon culture. Among these insights is the Anglo-Saxon view of women and their role in society. Good Anglo-Saxon women are peaceful and unassertive, greeting guests and serving drinks to the warriors and other men in the meadhall. Wealhtheow, the queen of the Danes, represents a typical subservient Anglo-Saxon woman. As a foil to Wealhtheow, Grendel's mother is a strong and combative monster whom Beowulf must kill. By analyzing these two characters in Beowulf, we can understand the treatment and mistreatment of women in Anglo-Saxon society. The author of Beowulf generally supports the traditional Anglo-Saxon views of women by praising Wealhtheow, condemning Grendel's mother, and showing the need to suppress feminine forces like Wyrd; however, he does offer some criticism of these views by creating sympathy for Grendel's mother, allowing Wealhtheow to assert herself in the interest of her husband and children, and revealing masculine fear of feminine power.
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.
stories. The women of Beowulf were used to bind up peace (or were peaceful women), whereas the women of Arthurian legend tended to disturb the peace and cause strife. There are many women described briefly in Beowulf, and a few women described elaborately in the various Arthurian tales. The women in Beowulf were mostly openly generous, but the women in Arthurian legend unintentionally created conflicts, with the exception of Morgan le Fay. Slight variations on the female characters are present in each story.
Grendel's dam is the embodiment of the Great Mother in her negative aspect. The Great Mother is an archetypal symbol of female powers. Her positive aspect includes her powers of procreation, fertility, nourishment, the earth as womb - that which contains all, and creativity. In her negative aspect, the Great Mother inspires awe and dread as a destructive, r...
To the Anglo-Saxon’s, women did not serve as incredibly prominent figures. In a society where war was consistent in everyday life, the ability to fight, being powerful, and ultimately being warriors were treasured. Men were physically stronger and therefore were immediately given the roles of warriors and had higher expectations. Anglo-Saxon women were not considered warriors and especially not expected to fight. Women were then given “less significant” roles in society. Although women were exempt from the higher prized roles, they still managed to attain a certain propriety. The epic Beowulf has three women who play roles that vary yet, are symbolic for the culture. These women are Hildeburh, Wealtheow, and Grendel’s mother and they represent three varying roles that Anglo-Saxon women play: the peacemaker, the hostess, and the monster. (Mention last lady, Aethelflaed, somewhere in the intro)
Women “were expected to bear children, stay home, cook and clean, and take care of the children” (Cobb 29). They were expected to be weak, timid, domestic, emotional, dependent, and pure. Women were taught to be physically and emotionally inferior in addition morally superior to men. During this time, women were ostracized for expressing characteristics and wants that contradicted those ideals. For women, the areas of influence are home and children, whereas men’s sphere includes work and the outside world” (Brannon 161).
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.
After a closer look in Beowulf one will find that the women roles in the poem are quite central and significant. They enrich the narrative by developing the plot and enlighten their men?s intentions. Nevertheless the women in the poem have their own will and power- political or physical. Thought some share similar qualities women characters are not patterned or superficial; these women are defined by dominant male figures but nonetheless they have their own significant features and depth.
This poetic depiction of Wealhtheow’s influence in Hrothgar’s court allows her great freedoms, which were typically allowed only for the king: [She] then handed the cup/ first to Hrothgar, their homeland guardian,/urging him to drink deep and enjoy it/…[And] so the Helming woman went on her rounds offering the goblet to all ranks” (Heaney 43). In this instance, the moral leadership of Wealhtheow defines the feminist heroine, which have given a special right to overlook the patriarchal traditions of Hrothgar’s court. Wealhtheow is very similar to Elinor because of her special standing as a woman of honor and dignity that gives her great powers to stand outside of patriarchal traditions that often entrap and subjugate other women. Beowulf provides this instance of poetic tradition that sets the foundation for greater equality between men and women due to the intelligent heroism of Elinor, Wealhtheow, and also, the figure of Mother Mary as an example of the morally righteous Anglo-Saxon
By reading Persuasion by Jane Austen we can understand the importance that land, rank in society, and the way women were viewed in Britain, influenced many people those of which included Jane Austen. Her writing was influenced by everything that was going on during the time that she was alive. Was land so important to them that they would give up their well being just to say they owned it? Were people constantly being criticized and put down due to the thought process that someone's rank was not good enough? Did women hold any position of power in society or were they expected to “good wives” by staying at home and cleaning? Oddly enough, these questions could be asked about our society now and we would get similar answers.
Going back to her prologue, The Wife seems to be criticized for something different she does by each of her husband 's. She can easily be seen as violent, demanding, too controlling, too lustful, and many other qualities. The Wife argues that no matter what women do or don’t do, they will always be criticized, “Thou seyst that som folk desiren us for richesse,/ Somme for oure shape, comme for oure fairnesse/ And som for she kan synge and daunce/ And som for gentillesse and som for/ daliaunce,/ som for hir handes and hir armes smale” (lines 257-262). While she makes a great point, she interjects these opinion’s during her tale as well. Interrupting the flow of her story to display her opinions in this way can lose the audience 's focus of the true meaning of the story. The story itself does a great job of bringing the role femininity into play without The Wife’s interjections. In the beginning of the tale, right after the queen orders the knight to go on his quest she gives him some hints. “Somme seyde wommen loven bset richesse;/ Somme seyde honour, somme seyde jolynesse,/ Somme rich array. Somme seyden lust/ abedde/ And oftetyme to be wydwe and weedde” (lines 925-928). This shows that women want more than materialistic things, contrary to popular belief. While these things aren’t bad to have, it means nothing if they do not have the power over their significant
While Anglo-Saxon women did not get to play a major role in their society like the kings and heroes of their culture, their roles, nevertheless, were important in holding the society together. When the men were off fighting it was the women’s duty to keep the household intact. In a society that frequently saw the devastation of war, women, whether they acted as peace-weavers or healers were often the ones who brought a measure of peace. The role of a Anglo-Saxon women was never easy, but they upheld their duty and served their
...nancial needs or just in the home men held the advantage. "A Doll's House," by Henrik Ibsen portrays the genders role of nineteenth century women and men in society. Torvald's perception of his wife of how she is a helpless creature shows the overall role which women filled. Women were responsible for the purity of the world through their influence in the home and through the upbringing of her children. They had to beg and ask for permission to do certain activities and essential things. Men were the ones in the family who worked and provided for his family's wellbeing. Because of the family's economic dependence on the husband, he had control over all of all his family members. This showed the amount of progress needing to come in the future to allow woman to start receiving some of the many rights they deserved which men had and so frequently took for granted.