Reputation in Beowulf

The famous poet James Russell Lowell once said, “Reputation is only a candle, of wavering and uncertain flame, and easily blown out, but it is the light by which the world looks for and finds merit” . Reality stresses the importance to be more concerned with personal character than self reputation, because character beholds who you really are, while your reputation is merely what others perceive. The epic of Beowulf, written in Old English, describes the adventures of a great Scandinavian warrior of the sixth century. Having an outstanding reputation was an important aspect of life, and in the world of Beowulf it was no different.

Having a good name is the same as immortality because the name will be placed in history and will be forever remembered. When introducing himself to the Danes, Beowulf was sure to mention his achievements such as the slaying of a tribe of giants and how he had driven away countless enemies from his homeland. In his eyes, personal reputation is the most valuable possession as he took what ever means necessary in order to build a handsome repituar. After Grendel’s mother seeks him out to exact revenge for the crime that she believes that he has committed against her, he sees this as an opportunity to further his reputation. The definition of justice in terms of Grendel’s mother is to seek out the one who is responsible for the death of her son and take his life as well. This is a justified reason for her to take revenge. Her only son was taken from her and the line is very thin between her and her son because they perceive events as though they were cursed. Being that they are descendants of Cain, the biblical son of Adam and Eve, the brother of Able who Cain believed was blessed by God kills Abl...

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...atiently waits because she knows that the same person who slew her son would be coming after her as well. Beowulf’s pursuit of the mother is nothing more than another way to build his reputation because if he had slain Grendel and it got him such recognition, slaying both ogre’s would raise his reputation tremendously thus bringing him even closer to his name being secured on the cover of the history book. Him going after Grendel’s mother has nothing or very little to do with the fact that she is a woman, it however has everything to do with the fame he would get and the respect that would be associated with his name.

In conclusion, for Beowulf, the most important thing is reputation and the immortality that goes along with having a reputable name. Having a good reputation ensured that long after you die the birth name will be an official heroic figure in history.