Identity In Beowulf

Every person who lives in this world will slowly grow into having a specific identity that defines who they are. For many people, they define their identities by how they grow up and what they practice in their daily lives. Our human experiences are so important to what we tend to be like later in life and I believe that God wants us to show our true identity every day. “We know what we are, but not what we may be”(William Shakespeare). This quote ties into Beowulf because I find that there are two ways that identity is shown in the epic. The two components I come to see are ancestral heritage and individual reputation. In the opening passages of the epic, they introduce us to the male figures as being the fathers son. Then in terms

Now I do not think that we just find our identity from family heritage, but also from going through life practicing certain values and solidifying that as something we want to be known as. The story I believe has an essential purpose to show us that a family can have true power over the descendents, and make them want to be identified as the

This was also the perfect time to build his individual reputation in front of the Geats. Beowulf knew that he had the strength to take down these monsters and it would help him become great. When it comes to my individual life, I build my reputation by being the best person possible for others because then they will know I can be trusted or needed later down the road. I also think that respect can build a reputation and so if we can just be true to who we are, then our identity will be known as a good one. Beowulf after defeating Grendel and the mom, he ends up back in Geatland where he is king and so it shows that what he did built himself a highly renown reputation. In the end of the story as well, Wiglaf even tells all of the other men that Beowulf was a great man and that is why he questioned them leaving Beowulf during the hard