Beowulf: Fame After Death is the Noblest of Goals - Essay Example

Beowulf: "fame after death is the noblest of goals" Reputation, fame, and the building of both are central to the themes of Beowulf. In accordance with the pagan belief that there was no afterlife, the inhabitants of the world of Beowulf seek their treasure and glory in the living world, to build a reputation that will carry on after their deaths. Beowulf has multiple motives for his actions during the course of the poem, and one of them is most certainly to win "fame after death". (1388) Beowulf records heroic deeds performed by the protagonist and certain other characters in the story. In this poem the concept of identity is a central theme. Identity in the world of Beowulf is made up of two main components - heritage, and reputation. Heritage is the sum of the deeds of one's forbears and the bloodline of one's ancestors. Reputation is the sum of the deeds of oneself. Beowulf's fame and identity are both made up of deeds performed by himself and his ancestors. Beowulf introduces the reader to a world where every man is known in relation to someone else. Even Grendel is introduced to the reader as being "conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cainpunished forever for the crime of Abel's death" (105-108) Grendel is known firstly by mention of the deeds of his ancestor, Cain - it is only in the following lines that the deeds of Grendel himself are told. Beowulf himself is first introduced to the reader as "Beowulf, Higlac's follower and the strongest of the Geats", (193-194) and subsequently introduces himself as the son of "a famous soldier, known far and wide as a leader of men". (261-262) He is talked of by the Danes as "a mighty warrior, powerful and wise", (370) and a man with "thirty men's strength". (380) This is even before Beowulf and Hrothgar have met - clearly Beowulf's fame is such that it precedes him a fairly long way. For the most part, characters do not speak without first introducing themselves in relation to their ancestors and each introduction of a character by the narrator necessitates a new introduction of their ancestral heritage. In the world of Beowulf, then, the identity of the characters is the sum of both their own deeds and that of their ancestors, and there is a great deal of emphasis placed on the importance of kinship bonds. The characters in the story take pride in ancestors who have acted with honor. The honor of their ancestors adds to their own glory, and they are also concerned with living up to and exceeding the reputations of their ancestors. Thus Beowulf is often described according to his relationship with others: as "Edgetho's brave son", (628) and "Higlac's follower". (758) In Beowulf, heroic deeds are the primary means by which one establishes a reputation and an identity. Ancestral heritage is an important consideration - not only does it help establish identity, it provides role models for future generations - but it is a secondary one. In the beginning of the poem, Beowulf is variously described as "greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world" (195-196) and "loved by the Geats" (203). Heroic feats he has performed have already established his reputation. The first Dane he meets upon landing his boat recognizes that here is a man who is greater than "all the men on earth". (248) Beowulf seems often concerned with the doing of deeds for the fame and glory they will give him. This is an important concept, since the pagans do not believe in an afterlife. Beowulf does not believe he will ascend to heaven and spend eternity with God. What he does believe is that by accumulating a store of heroic deeds in his earthly life, his reputation and fame will live on after he dies: his descendants will introduce themselves in relation to Beowulf, and his legendary deeds will be spoken of for hundreds of years. Reputation is the one thing that will endure after this death - it is his key to achieving immortality. This is how Beowulf will live on after his death, and in Beowulf's world, death is a constant possibility, hence his preoccupation with building his reputation. It is more important to him even than treasure: after defeating Grendel's mother, Beowulf leaves behind the treasure she has stored there in favor of bringing back Grendel's head and the hilt of the magic sword. Beowulf's reputation is the most important thing to him from the outset. He introduces himself to the Danes by citing his relationship to Higlac, and with a list of achievements that have given honor to him and his king. His reputation is at stake when Unferth jealously accuses Beowulf of foolishness and pride during the swimming match with Brecca, with the purpose of wounding Beowulf's honor. Such insults are the worst possible slur to Beowulf, whose reputation is of paramount importance. Beowulf's response is to explain the true events of the swimming match: even though he knew he could out-swim Brecca, he chose to swim with him for five nights until a storm separated them. He fought and defeated nine sea-monsters before arriving home. With this tale he firmly establishes his heroic reputation even to the satisfaction of Hrothgar, who believes in Beowulf's "bold strength and the firmness of his spirit". (610) A true hero fears nothing, especially not death. Beowulf is well aware that regardless of the outcome, battles such as that with Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon will add to the reputation that is his legacy to the living world after his death. As such, he shows no fear, and is content to let fate "unwind as it must!" (455) Win or lose, he knows that fate is in charge, and thus he prepares for both outcomes every time he goes into battle. And because fate is the master, Beowulf performs his heroic deeds in a manner which will add to his glory. Before fighting Grendel, he hears that the monster "needs no weapons and fears none". (434) He strips himself of armor and weapons, saying "Grendel is no braver, no stronger than I am! I could kill him with my sword; I shall not, easy as it would be". (676-689) With fate as his master, Beowulf chooses to fight on the monster's terms, knowing that if he dies, it will be as a hero. Similarly, he considers his reputation before fighting the dragon, and he feels "something, not fear but knowledge of old age". (2421-2422) He considers his earlier battles with Grendel and Grendel's mother, and again chooses to fight in a manner that will add to his glory: "I've never known fear; as a youth I found in endless battles. I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still" (2511-2513) "I mean to stand, not run from his shooting flames, stand till fate decides which of us wins" (2525-2527) He fights the dragon alone, and dies a hero's death. After his death, Beowulf's people build his funeral pyre, "telling their sorrow, telling stories of their dead king and his greatness, his glory, praising him for heroic deeds" (3171-3173) This has been one of the purposes of his life: to achieve that "noblest of goals" (1388) - a life that becomes greater in the retelling, a legend that lingers long after death. This theme of Beowulf, of ancestral heritage and performing heroic deeds combining to form one's reputation, culminate in this ending in which Beowulf's death is as glorious and heroic as his life. Read More