Beowulf Characters Analysis
Beowulf - A famed Geatish warrior who journeys to Heorot when he hears of Grendel, the unstoppable monster that has been haunting the mead hall. Beowulf is driven by a desire for fame and treasure since the warrior culture makes him believe that it is the only way to give meaning to his life. The author of the epic admires Beowulf for his heroic qualities, such as his strength, courage, and unwavering confidence. Yet, the author creates disturbing parallels between Beowulf and the monsters he fights. Additionally, the shift in perspective during scenes of combat, allows the reader to see Beowulf in much the same light as the monsters are seen by their victims. Ultimately, the poet asserts that Beowulf is just as terrible as the monsters of the story, which serves as a criticism of the Pagan culture from a Christian point of view. Beowulf dies during a terrible fight with a dragon and requests that his people build a bright mound in his name so that ships may see their way at sea.
Hrothgar - A famed warrior that has aged into a wise king. Hrothgar’s genealogy traces him to the great Shield Sheafson who ushered in a time of prosperity and stability. Hrothgar orders the building of a splendid mead hall, that he names Heorot. The completed building is a wonder but it becomes impossible to use when Grendel the monster begins to use it as a feeding ground. Hrothgar tries to fight off the monster but all of the war band fails to stand against the might of the monster until Beowulf arrives with his band of Geatish warriors. Hrothgar is respected by all the thanes, and even Beowulf acknowledges him as a capable leader. Hrothgar recognizes Beowulf’s ability to rise to the title of king and offers him advice about the differences in the roles of warrior and King.
Grendel - A horrible monster from the depths of hell that is believed to be descended from Cain. Grendel is a powerful man-eating monster that haunts the halls of Heorot for 12 years before being stopped by Beowulf. In the last moments before his death, the narrator shifts the focus from Beowulf and presents Grendel’s inner thoughts. He experiences horror and fear when he falls into Beowulf’s grip without any means of escape. Beowulf rips Grendel’s arm off at the shoulder, and nails it to the roof of the mead hall. At this moment Beowulf appears to be just as horrific as the monsters he seeks to vanquish.
Grendel’s Dam - The second monster that Beowulf fights is the avenging mother of Beowulf’s first victim, Grendel. She seeks revenge for the murder of her son and sneaks into the hall. She manages to kill one of King Hrothgar’s closest allies and steals back the arm that Beowulf had ripped from Grendel. She represents the evil practice of blood feuds and vengeance pacts that were a prevalent feature of the ancient Scandinavian warrior code. Beowulf kills her with a sword that he finds stashed in her lair.
Dragon - The dragon is Beowulf’s final enemy, and he is aware of this fact before he sets out to fight it. The dragon is woken from his slumber when the last survivor of a clan seeks to relate to his culture through an heirloom. This last survivor finds his way to the Dragon’s gigantic hoard and steals an item of his culture. The dragon wakes from his slumber and begins to destroy settlements in search of the missing item. Beowulf rides to the Dragon’s hoard to face him in combat, during which both of them are killed. Beowulf’s fight against the dragon is symbolic of his fight against the greed for treasure, which happens to be a key motivating factor in all of his heroic acts.
Hygelac - The king of the Geats, and the uncle of Beowulf, who attempts to stop his nephew from going to find Grendel. He worries for Beowulf’s safety and believes his approach to be too brash, but he is happy to have Beowulf return to the land. Beowulf seems to have a great love for his king, which he demonstrates by giving him a great portion of the treasure he had received from Hrothgar. Later onwards, Hygelac passes away on the battlefield and many people urge the surviving Beowulf to take the throne for himself, but Beowulf continues to be loyal to Hygelac’s heirs, and reluctantly performs the role of a ruler when he is forced to take up the mantle.
