Virtue and Community in Beowulf

Farah Khan

LIT/235

Professor Collette Wanless-Sobel

January 23, 2017

Virtue and Community in Beowulf

        Beowulf is an old, epic poem written in the Anglo-Saxon portrayal of a medieval circumstance during the reformation within European borders. It shows a hero with a strong love for his reputation as well as his people that fights valiantly against the evil that threatens the harmony of their way of life when no one else can or will make the effort to put a stop to it. It defines truly what community, virtue, and what is expected of a hero and his role within the community is.

        What is it to be good, in such a time where reputation and pride play a great role? This is where I find the story to be the simplest kind of epic tale there is, a blatant play on good and evil. It would seem to be good in the world where this takes place, one must be valorous and have a reputation (which typically stemmed from father to son) in their greatness and the magnitude of their accomplishments. One must be seen as courageous, strong and proud. It all seems like posturing and pride gets you far (in terms of being considered good) and portrays the individual as heroic or more heroic that others. To be evil, seems to be “come from a marsh and be a demon or dragon”.

        What is the relationship between one’s own ability and ethical virtue? Strength is considered to be pure, and one with it is seen as virtuous. Strength, courage and loyalty make one good, and virtuous and you can’t have any of these qualities without the other. These all tie into the good of the people and community, for someone who protects them must have these qualities. This in turn makes for one’s individual prowess ethically virtuous. Our hero, Beowulf, thusly reflects this virtue in every heroic display of might and courage, the first being when he defeats Grendel for Hrothgar and protected the people of Heorot. It does seem, however, as the story progresses that that side of Beowulf slowly changes and he becomes a little cocky and the ethically virtuous behavior of his wanes a little.

        What does it mean to be a member in the community and how is it communicated within this tale? Community in Beowulf is a perfect reflection of how people lived in medieval times. Individuals or families did not just strike out on their own and try to live and succeed, rather they lived in communities as it benefitted them as a greater good. Every aspect of their lives was basically communal, everyone worked and helped each other, together. Heorot was a prime example, being the main gathering place in the initial story where the community came together and also where Grendel decided to take out his frustrations on not being a part of their community as well. The point is that they stuck together, and helped each other, and that is what it meant to be a part of the community. Which is why Beowulf was so readily accepted when he selflessly (although it seemed more for his own glory) defended peoples who were not his own against Grendel and his mother, successfully defeating both.