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Loyalty In Beowulf

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Anglo-Saxons, although human, lived in a culture where war and fame were prized over democracy and peace. In the epic Beowulf, translated by Burton Raffel, many of these values are shown and they drive the Anglo-Saxons in their short existences on Earth. Beowulf follows the story of a young Geatish warrior who comes to help the Danes defeat their archenemy Grendel. After he bests Grendel and his mother, he becomes king, eventually dying as king protecting his homeland from a dragon. The two most vital traits to the Anglo-Saxons were loyalty and strength. Anglo-Saxons held at the core of their code a loyalty to their king, homeland, and kinsmen and the importance of strength to oppose all enemies that threatened them. Loyalty is the …show more content…

It binds them together under one king and gives them a sense of union. They not only have fierce loyalty to their kings, but also to their fellow soldiers. One of the most embarrassing acts an Anglo-Saxon warrior can commit is abandoning his kinsmen in battle. This is portrayed as one of the most shameful acts that can permanently mark a person as a coward and a weakling. Wiglaf shows the importance of loyalty when he is the only soldier to stay behind and help Beowulf in his fight against the dragon. Wiglaf berates his fellow soldiers for leaving Beowulf’s side and remarks that they will have nothing “left but their lives. And death / Would be better for them all, and for you, than / Of life you can lead, branded with disgrace” (2810-2812). This quote exemplifies the importance of loyalty in the Anglo-Saxon culture as the soldiers are looked upon with scorn after abandoning their leader and forget completely of the loyalty they owe to him. Unwavering loyalty is one of the most defining Anglo-Saxon characteristic, but when soldiers abandon this then people view them as cowards and traitors who have no place in their …show more content…

This strength was what defined a person’s reputation and was always what warriors boasted of most as Anglo-Saxons loved to boast of their power and mighty deeds. People were determined to be the strongest they could because it could help them gain favor in the community and earn more rewards. It was often the strongest warriors who gained legendary status and this is what people hoped to gain fame by honing their skills. Strength is ultimately what allows Anglo-Saxons to crave the glory that they crave and it gives warriors a way to raise their standings in the

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