Womans In Beowulf Essay, Research Paper

Jennifer Lunsford

ENG 220

Barbara Cook

10-14-99

Womans in Beowulf

In the verse form Beowulf the adult females play the function of peace-keepers at any cost. Among these adult females I will look closely at Wealhtheow, Grendel & # 8217 ; s female parent and Hygd. Through all the adult females in Beowulf one can see a female position of award, trueness and societal public assistance.

Wealhtheow is the picturesque queen. One sees this when she meets the Lords after Beowulf has defeated Grendel. The storyteller explains how she is, & # 8220 ; . . . mindful of imposts, gold-adorned. . . the baronial adult female offered the cup. . . & # 8221 ; ( Norton 35 ) . This imagination absolutely describes a queen. Wealhtheow is a function theoretical account of formal behaviours and responsibilities. She makes offerings to Beowulf and tells him to, & # 8220 ; . . . Wear this ring. . . with good fortune, and do usage of this mail shirt from the people & # 8217 ; s hoarded wealth, . . . & # 8221 ; ( Norton 43 ) The queen is giving him gifts as items of grasp and trueness for what he has done for the Danes. She is a strong and positive figure in all the confusion and conflict.

Wealhtheow does hold a private conversation with her hubby. She is asking about what he has said and answers, & # 8220 ; . . . you would hold the warrior for your boy. . . . leave to your kinsmen common people and land when you go forth to look on the Ruler & # 8217 ; s decree. . . . & # 8221 ; ( Norton 42 ) . Wealhtheow is connoting that she does non desire Beowulf to hold the thrown. This is non her being negative. She is being loyal to the household because the thrown should justly be given to one of her boies. The queen idea she was making what was good for her boies, but if she would hold let Beowulf take the thrown the Danes would hold been safe from the gambits of Hrothulf. Then Freawaru would non hold ended up like Hildeburh. Freawaru & # 8217 ; s father Hrothgar implies, & # 8220 ; . . . Such is no queenly usage for a adult female to pattern, though she is matchless, & # 8211 ; that one who weaves peace. . . & # 8221 ; ( Norton 52 ) . He is coercing her to

marry to stop a feud that ends in bloodshed and that is precisely what happened to Hildeburh.

When one looks at Grendel & # 8217 ; s female parent we see, as the storyteller puts it, & # 8220 ; . . . female parent, adult females, monster-wife. . . & # 8221 ; ( Norton 43 ) who seeks to, & # 8220 ; . . . avenge her boies decease. . . . & # 8221 ; ( Norton 43 ) . This shows her trueness to her boy. Her motherly inherent aptitudes are stating her person must pay for the decease of her boy, as any true female parent would. She seeks peace for her and her boy and avenges him without vacillation.

Grendel & # 8217 ; s female parent could non see what destine held in shop for her due to her avenging of her boy. While on her violent disorder she killed Aeschere who is referred to as a, & # 8220 ; . . .chief thane. . . & # 8221 ; ( Norton 44 ) to Hrothgar. Hrothgar asks Beowulf to assist him and he replies, & # 8220 ; . . . It is better for a adult male to revenge his friend than much mourn. . . . & # 8221 ; ( Norton 45 ) . Grendel & # 8217 ; s mother so pays for revenging her boy with her life.

Hygd is a batch like Wealhtheow. She is referred to as, & # 8220 ; . . . most vernal, wise and good taught, . . . & # 8221 ; ( Norton 51 ) . She is non so speedy to seek and win people over with gifts. She seems to care about her people a batch more than Wealhtheow does. Hygd represents the features of a true queen.

When the war breaks out between the Geats and the Swedes Hygelac is killed and person needs to take the thrown. When Beowulf gets back to his place the storyteller says how, & # 8220 ; . . . Hygd offered him the cache and land, rings and a prince & # 8217 ; s thrown. . . . & # 8221 ; ( Norton 57 ) . She does non swear her boy and wants Beowulf to hold the award because of his great trueness. Hygd wants what is best for her people and she besides wants to avoid any more devastation if she can.

These three adult females use many tactics to honour, protect and uphold their society merely every bit much as any warrior. Wealhtheow, Grendel & # 8217 ; s female parent and Hygd are all different in many ways, but they all try to maintain peace to the best of their ability. They do this by honouring their household, themselves or their people at all costs.