Importance of Revenge
The Anglo-Saxons had faith in the idea that taking retaliation can start a vicious cycle of revenge. In the culture if a person killed one of your people, you were bond by a warrior’s code of honor to take revenge for that person’s death, but then that tribe had to get revenge for that person, which continues the whole cycle. This is proven by Beowulf killing Grendel, then Grendel’s mother wanting payback for her son. This vicious cycle will only end when there isn’t anybody left to seek revenge, which could only happen when everyone was dead.
With the belief of revenge comes the Anglo-Saxon’s notion of destiny and fate, known as wyrd. There are various mentions of wyrd in the text, so even though the characters do things to triumph over their rivals, they are fully conscious that their fate helps to determine their results in life. Beowulf even says how “fate spares the man it has not already marked”. (ln 574)
The need to seek out revenge acts as a driving force for numerous characters in the story throughout the poem, originally rousing Grendel and his mother. Grendel wants retribution from humanity for making him a monster. He finds joy in attacking Heorot and eating the Danes, because Heorot acts as figure for all the things Grendel hates about humans, specifically the Danes: their triumph, happiness, prestige, loyalty, and approval in God’s eyes. Grendel's mother's reason for revenge is more simple and relatable, she just wants to make the man that killed her son pay. Though not as strong and sturdy as her son, she is driven by a parent’s rage.
She ends up killing one of Hrothgar’s most beloved friends, his “highest adviser” and “dearest companion” in his sleep. (ln 1308-9). She retrieves her son’s arm as her last act of retribution, but her actions motivate Beowulf enough that he decides to take revenge on her, giving him another chance to be a heroic warrior. The fight between Beowulf and Grendel’s mother is strenuous still he is able to triumphantly beat her. He takes leaves with Grendel’s head as his symbol of victory, along with a giant’s sword that melts from Grendel’s blood, his last act of vengeance.
Beowulf's last battle that ends up killing him is due to revenge. The menacing dragon is spiteful due to the fact that a slave had stolen some of the treasure in his hoard. He attacks tribes across the land, burning them in retaliation, including Beowulf’s. Beowulf, angered over the damage done to his people goes to kill the dragon as revenge. The dragon gets vanquished but Beowulf dies in the process. His subjects give him a warrior’s funeral and he is given the dragon’s treasures.
In conclusion, revenge acts as a motivator for a lot of the blood feuds in Beowulf. The author goes as far to imply it as a way of life in the Anglo-Saxon culture, because it is through the vengeful actions of the characters that a hero can be able to rise.
The Anglo-Saxons had faith in the idea that taking retaliation can start a vicious cycle of revenge. In the culture if a person killed one of your people, you were bond by a warrior’s code of honor to take revenge for that person’s death, but then that tribe had to get revenge for that person, which continues the whole cycle. This is proven by Beowulf killing Grendel, then Grendel’s mother wanting payback for her son. This vicious cycle will only end when there isn’t anybody left to seek revenge, which could only happen when everyone was dead.
With the belief of revenge comes the Anglo-Saxon’s notion of destiny and fate, known as wyrd. There are various mentions of wyrd in the text, so even though the characters do things to triumph over their rivals, they are fully conscious that their fate helps to determine their results in life. Beowulf even says how “fate spares the man it has not already marked”. (ln 574)
The need to seek out revenge acts as a driving force for numerous characters in the story throughout the poem, originally rousing Grendel and his mother. Grendel wants retribution from humanity for making him a monster. He finds joy in attacking Heorot and eating the Danes, because Heorot acts as figure for all the things Grendel hates about humans, specifically the Danes: their triumph, happiness, prestige, loyalty, and approval in God’s eyes. Grendel's mother's reason for revenge is more simple and relatable, she just wants to make the man that killed her son pay. Though not as strong and sturdy as her son, she is driven by a parent’s rage.
She ends up killing one of Hrothgar’s most beloved friends, his “highest adviser” and “dearest companion” in his sleep. (ln 1308-9). She retrieves her son’s arm as her last act of retribution, but her actions motivate Beowulf enough that he decides to take revenge on her, giving him another chance to be a heroic warrior. The fight between Beowulf and Grendel’s mother is strenuous still he is able to triumphantly beat her. He takes leaves with Grendel’s head as his symbol of victory, along with a giant’s sword that melts from Grendel’s blood, his last act of vengeance.
Beowulf's last battle that ends up killing him is due to revenge. The menacing dragon is spiteful due to the fact that a slave had stolen some of the treasure in his hoard. He attacks tribes across the land, burning them in retaliation, including Beowulf’s. Beowulf, angered over the damage done to his people goes to kill the dragon as revenge. The dragon gets vanquished but Beowulf dies in the process. His subjects give him a warrior’s funeral and he is given the dragon’s treasures.
In conclusion, revenge acts as a motivator for a lot of the blood feuds in Beowulf. The author goes as far to imply it as a way of life in the Anglo-Saxon culture, because it is through the vengeful actions of the characters that a hero can be able to rise.