Role of Women in Beowulf
In Beowulf there is an importance of male heroics, leaving the noteworthiness of the female characters limited and constricted. Though female characters make short appearances in the epic, they have been shown to have underlying parts. Wealhtheow, Hygd, Hildeburh, Freawaru, Modthryth and Grendel’s mother are all female characters that are mentioned in the poem.
Wealhtheow and Hygd are two queens married to Hrothgar and Hygelac. They are married to a king, Wealhtheow being Hrothgar’s wife and Hygd being Hygelac’s. They help to host celebrations and parties in the hall such as making sure everybody is happy and having a nice time. In Anglo-Saxon society noble women had the paramount part in the banquet hall as well as diplomatic affairs. Since war and violence was a normal event and life spans were short during the time, being a good fighter was a great talent. However, since women weren’t taught or allowed to physically fight, they had to find other skills such diplomatic and social ones. Especially women who have to govern over a hall of people. So isn’t that much of a surprise when the poet describes Wealhtheow as “queenly” and “dignified”. (ln 621) Their job to hand out the mead cup, helps to indicate ranking system in the hall. So even though females are below men in the Anglo-Saxon caste system they still retain their decency and respect in their assumed roles as wives, parents, peacekeepers, and ladies of the halls.
Women in Anglo-Saxon spend their entire lifetimes being held under male protection, living safely in their parents’ banquet halls. When they were old enough they’d be married off and sent to live with their husbands, whom they had to be loyal to and obey. In Beowulf Hildeburh and Freawaru are the peacemakers of the female characters. These ladies were put into a union to a person from a tribe that were thought to be rivals in order to create peace and end feuds. When unity is achieved Hildeburh and Freawaru were able to influence the groups. Though peacemakers often need to bare a lofty weight on their shoulder, such as Hildeburh who failed at her marriage mission. She is Danish princess that married a rival and ended up losing her son, husband, and brother in a fight. Freawaru’s, King Hrothgar’s daughter, story is another example of a failed political marriage and she has a smaller role Hildeburh. Her union was seen as disgraceful, since she married the king of an enemy, Ingeld, tribe. Though she was only married off due the fact that the Danes murdered Ingeld’s dad and they didn’t want him to seek revenge.
Then we have the two villainous ladies of the poem, specifically Grendel’s mother and Modthryth. These are gruesome and wicked women that completely contradict peacekeeper and hostess roles. They have no problem utilizing cruelty and violence to work out their problems and don’t welcome anyone into their halls. They are seen as brutal and aggressive since they resort to using weapons and physical actions instead of language and diplomacy, like Wealhtheow or Hildeburh. Grendel’s mother and Modthryth pretty much take on masculine roles in the Anglo-Saxon society with their actions. Grendel’s mother is a strong, commanding, and self-reliant woman. She lives by herself and defends her home alone. The only reason she even confronts Beowulf is to get vengeance on him for killing her son. Modthryth is a manipulative and evil queen that would kill anybody that would grace her hall. The main distinction among the two villainous women is that Grendel’s mother is a demon-like monster, while Modthryth is human queen. Since she’s a queen, she can socialize with other humans and have a status in society, something Grendel’s mother can’t ever experience.
So though women in Anglo-Saxon culture are below men, they can have a wide but limited range of roles in society. Able to be good or evil queens, political brides, peacekeepers, hostesses, and even monsters that can hold or destroy a society.
In Beowulf there is an importance of male heroics, leaving the noteworthiness of the female characters limited and constricted. Though female characters make short appearances in the epic, they have been shown to have underlying parts. Wealhtheow, Hygd, Hildeburh, Freawaru, Modthryth and Grendel’s mother are all female characters that are mentioned in the poem.
Wealhtheow and Hygd are two queens married to Hrothgar and Hygelac. They are married to a king, Wealhtheow being Hrothgar’s wife and Hygd being Hygelac’s. They help to host celebrations and parties in the hall such as making sure everybody is happy and having a nice time. In Anglo-Saxon society noble women had the paramount part in the banquet hall as well as diplomatic affairs. Since war and violence was a normal event and life spans were short during the time, being a good fighter was a great talent. However, since women weren’t taught or allowed to physically fight, they had to find other skills such diplomatic and social ones. Especially women who have to govern over a hall of people. So isn’t that much of a surprise when the poet describes Wealhtheow as “queenly” and “dignified”. (ln 621) Their job to hand out the mead cup, helps to indicate ranking system in the hall. So even though females are below men in the Anglo-Saxon caste system they still retain their decency and respect in their assumed roles as wives, parents, peacekeepers, and ladies of the halls.
Women in Anglo-Saxon spend their entire lifetimes being held under male protection, living safely in their parents’ banquet halls. When they were old enough they’d be married off and sent to live with their husbands, whom they had to be loyal to and obey. In Beowulf Hildeburh and Freawaru are the peacemakers of the female characters. These ladies were put into a union to a person from a tribe that were thought to be rivals in order to create peace and end feuds. When unity is achieved Hildeburh and Freawaru were able to influence the groups. Though peacemakers often need to bare a lofty weight on their shoulder, such as Hildeburh who failed at her marriage mission. She is Danish princess that married a rival and ended up losing her son, husband, and brother in a fight. Freawaru’s, King Hrothgar’s daughter, story is another example of a failed political marriage and she has a smaller role Hildeburh. Her union was seen as disgraceful, since she married the king of an enemy, Ingeld, tribe. Though she was only married off due the fact that the Danes murdered Ingeld’s dad and they didn’t want him to seek revenge.
Then we have the two villainous ladies of the poem, specifically Grendel’s mother and Modthryth. These are gruesome and wicked women that completely contradict peacekeeper and hostess roles. They have no problem utilizing cruelty and violence to work out their problems and don’t welcome anyone into their halls. They are seen as brutal and aggressive since they resort to using weapons and physical actions instead of language and diplomacy, like Wealhtheow or Hildeburh. Grendel’s mother and Modthryth pretty much take on masculine roles in the Anglo-Saxon society with their actions. Grendel’s mother is a strong, commanding, and self-reliant woman. She lives by herself and defends her home alone. The only reason she even confronts Beowulf is to get vengeance on him for killing her son. Modthryth is a manipulative and evil queen that would kill anybody that would grace her hall. The main distinction among the two villainous women is that Grendel’s mother is a demon-like monster, while Modthryth is human queen. Since she’s a queen, she can socialize with other humans and have a status in society, something Grendel’s mother can’t ever experience.
So though women in Anglo-Saxon culture are below men, they can have a wide but limited range of roles in society. Able to be good or evil queens, political brides, peacekeepers, hostesses, and even monsters that can hold or destroy a society.