Christine Bloom

British Literature

8/24 8/29/11

Colonel Joshua Chamberlain once said, However humble or unknown, heroes have renounced what are accounted pleasures and cheerfully undertaken all the self-denials privations, toils, dangers, sufferings, sicknesses, mutilations and life (Col. Joshua Chamberlain, 1869) I think that this quote properly defines a true hero as one who is willing to suffer cheerfully, without selfish intent, for the sake of other people. I have been asked to address the question Was Beowulf a true hero? Why or why not? I would like to propose that Beowulf was not a hero in the true sense and hopefully convince you through three points. First: the attributes of Beowulf. Second; His attributes compared to those of a real life hero and lastly compared to the above quote. Lets look at the attributes of Beowulf. Beowulf achieved great feats of strength, as pointed out by King Hrothgar; swimming competitions, dragon slaying et cetera. But does this indicate heroism? I think that Beowulfs actions indicate both a lust for glory and a disproportionate view of himself. When asked why he did not complete the swimming competition against his friend he didnt reply in a humble way or in a way that made him look anything less than a hero. He answered the question with the fact that he had roused the wrath of the sea-fishes and slew nine of them with his naked sword. (lines 548-566, Beowulf, Nortons Anthology) Its seems very convenient that he wouldnt have to complete the race, because he had to slay nine monsters of the deep. Throughout the tale of Beowulf, not depending on the translation, Beowulf is shown to be a prideful, self-important, selfish hero who cares little for others but rather for his own glory and legacy. Weve established the characteristics of Beowulf, but how does he compare with a real-life hero? Raoul Wallenberg never intended to have a legacy. He was a simple Swedish Businessman and diplomat; but underneath the exterior of this simple man laid a heart burdened for those in suffering or who were victims of injustice. While working as a Swedish Diplomat is Budapest, Wallenberg saved the lives of tens of thousands of Jews by issuing protective passports and harboring Jews in buildings designated as Swedish property. His efforts were some of the most successful throughout the Second World War; however, Wallenberg did not save many lives without any ill ramifications. When Budapest was occupied by the Soviets, Wallenberg was arrested and consequently disappeared as he had been connected to US intelligence. His death was not declared by the Soviet Union until two years later. Here was a man who gave his life for the lives of others, yet how many know his name? Not very many people have ever heard of him. However humble or unknown, Heroes have. cheerfully undertake the self-denials life is what Joshua Chamberlain said. This is what Raoul Wallenberg did and what Beowulf did not do. Beowulf was well known, not unknown. He renounced few pleasures, as we could see in the first section of the tale: he indulged in drunkenness. Never once did he risk his own pleasures other than life, but even there, he risked the lives of others before his own. For instance, when Grendel first attacked the mead-hall, was it Beowulf who lay at the edge where it was easy for Grendel to attack? Of course it wasnt. Beowulf lay safely in the middle surrounded by his men on all sides and not only that, but he lay awake waiting for

Christine Bloom

British Literature

8/24 8/29/11

Grendel and allowed Grendel to eat his companion. Throughout the tale, Beowulf longs for glory and has his men call him such names as Life Lord and Ruler of Glory (line 15-19, Beowulf, Nortons Anthology) etc., but that was all he hoped for. He hoped not to relieve the broken and the hurt in Hrothgars country or to cease the loss of life, but only to further his own desires. This is not the attitude of a hero who cheerfully suffers the self-denials but rather the attitude of a selfish, self-centered, power hungry, strongman. As we have seen, Beowulfs character was not that of a hero either by the standards of the beginning quote, or compared to a man who gave his life for the sake of others. In conclusion, I would encourage you to seek those who truly qualify as heroes as role models, not those who are a faade of heroism.