Araujo Iury 1

Iury Castro De Araujo

Dr Sailor

LAN1200

November 03, 2020

Compare and Contrast Essay

This essay I will make a comparison between Beowulf and Macbeth – two beautiful pieces of

British literature. Reading Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon poem, and Macbeth by William

Shakespeare, the first impression is that they are not alike.

Although, when you read and compare Beowulf vs Macbeth, it becomes clear that the tragedy of

Macbeth, and the epic poem, Beowulf have various similarities. Although, there are more

numerous differences. Comparing and contrasting the styles of these two plays, the similarities

are more interesting for consideration as they are more difficult for identification.

Both have heroes as the protagonist of the story. The stories were written in two different time

periods, still can be seen with some similarities and differences. A tragic hero is of high ranking

and woefully has a flaw that they hold which brings them to their tragic downfall and soon they

will get the consequences that are to come.

The presentation of the two heroes, in consideration of the ethical themes, and the final stages of

both plays. Latter at the end it helps to draw some ethical conclusions based on the peculiarity of

the actions of Macbeth and Beowulf. It is obvious that both heroes in the tragedy and the epic

poem are notable people full of bravery and disposed to act in favor of the society.

Macbeth is a tragic hero who is a leader in the community, possesses some extraordinary

features. Shakespeare describes him, “For brave Macbeth–well he deserves that name–
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Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like

valor’s minion carved out his passage Till he faced the slave; Which ne’er shook hands, nor bade

farewell to him, Till he unseamed him from the nave to the chaps, And fixed his head upon our

battlements(Act 1 Scene 2).” Beowulf characteristics is as follows, “the hero had acted with

flawless courage… he was the most famous of exiles, a protector of warriors, acknowledged

among men for his valorous deeds, his remarkable strength – after Heremod’s struggles came to

an end, the eclipsed that hero (Lines 893-902)”. The quotes from the texts above we can see that

similarity is undeniable. Being epic and tragic characters, they are taking after the protection and

hopes for their community.

Beowulf is given a proper and well-respected burial whereas Macbeth is disliked and is not given

the proper burial. Macbeth's ambitiousness drives him to be an self-assured character and

Beowulf is a great warrior that everyone admired him and was full of pride and courage. On the

other side, Macbeth and Beowulf are set off differently through the traits they display. Macbeth

is more guided towards being an ambitious character which is his tragic flaw and Beowulf's trait

is full of courage.

In contrast Macbeth and Beowulf, both of them became king through different methods. They

became of higher power through self-assurance and confidence. Macbeth uses outside help, the

witch sisters, and count on his own ways of becoming the king. Macbeth used his strengths as a

strategy to play everyone and conduct him to be self-assured. In the other hand Beowulf from

beginning to end is always self-assured. He becomes king because he is a good warrior, fearless,

and proud. Beowulf was always the stronger of the two because his confidence was within him,
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while Macbeth gets his confidence after he kills the king and tried to get away with it but at the

end he went down.

Although, having considered the examples between Beowulf and Macbeth, the latter by William

Shakespeare, and the former Anglo-Saxon poem, we can conclude that there are various

similarities between these two plays. The attributes of the main characters, their objective as the

leaders of the society, the ethical and moral lessons, and the end scenes which are the most

important in the understanding the main idea of these plays are the things that make Beowulf and

Macbeth similar. Epic poems and tragedy are different genres that aims in achieving several

goals using particular methods; although, the plays under consideration help to surmise that the

similarities are also possible even within different genres.