Examples Of Loyalty In Beowulf

In the epic poem Beowulf, Hrothgar, the King of Denmark, calls the main character Beowulf to defend his people. Throughout the poem, there are displays of loyalty between brave Beowulf and the defenseless Danes, Beowulf and the ghostly Geats, and gruesome Grendel and Grendel's monstrous mother. Beowulf presents an ideal of loyalty. The failure to live up to this ideal on the part of some thanes points up the extraordinary faithfulness of Beowulf.

For example, Beowulf professes his loyalty to the Danes by repeatedly putting his life on the line to protect them. When Grendel attacks the mead-hall, Beowulf’s bravery propels him to defend the Danes and promise the end of Grendel. Beowulf demonstrates his intentions when he says, “I had a fixed purpose when I put to sea. As I sat in the boat with my band

She lives alone in her cave and her need for vengeance is the only thing that keeps her moving. Grendel’s mother shows her vengeance for the first time when she attacks Heorot after Grendel’s death. Grendel’s mother stayed secluded until her child was killed “But now his mother Had sallied forth on a savage journey, Grief-racked and ravenous, desperate for revenge”. Grendel’s mother proves her loyalty to Grendel by avenging him and eventually giving her life to defend her child’s body. Beowulf attacks Grendel’s mother’s cave where he “he repaid her fierce attack with his battle-blade, not holding back his stroke, so the ring-adorned sword sang out on her head a war-song greedy for blood”. Grendel’s mother’s willingness to sacrifice her life to protect her son’s dead body illustrates how loyal she remains to him despite the horrors that he committed. The loyalty of Grendel’s mother is magnified by the lack of allegiance that the Geats have to Beowulf. She risks her life to defend her dead son’s body while the Geats rush away from the battle, leaving Beowulf and Wiglaf to fend for