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Intentionality behind the fighting -Emma Kate Patterson

 Does the glorification of fighting provoke more violence in the book? Throughout the book we see fighting being glorified and rewarded. This can be both positive and negative. It can be positive in a sense that those who fought deserve a reward for fighting and winning the battle. This can be seen in modern terms when our military is rewarded for fighting. Our military fights to protect our freedom and for that they deserve a reward. They also risk their lives to protect us and deserve to be rewarded for that. Our military fights to protect us when it is necessary but in the book we see that Beowulf not only fights to protect and win but he flaunts his win and give no mercy. The difference in our military and Beowulf is the intentionality behind the fighting. Our military fights to protect our country and it’s people but the intentionality behind Beowulf’s fighting is questionable.

It is because of Beowulf’s unnecessary brutality that I must question if the reason he fights is for the attention and rewards or if it is for the betterment of his community. We see in the book where Beowulf says,” My plan was to pounce, pin him down in a tight grip and grapple him to death- have him panting for life, powerless and clasped in my bare hands, his body in thrall.” (Heaney, 65) By this quote we can see that Beowulf wanted to be brutal. Prior to this Beowulf talks about how he wanted the people to see the monster with their own eyes. This makes me assume that he sought attention from the people and wanted affirmation from them. Due to Beowulf’s cruelness and attention seeking behavior I must question his intentions behind fighting. 


I commented on Leanne White’s and Abigale Bell’s post. 

Comments

  1. Emmett BryantFebruary 22, 2021 at 3:21 PM

    This is a really good point. It begs the question, "Is fighting necessary?". Of course we know it is (hence, your remark about the bravery of our military), but clearly at times the cruelty involved in fighting is not needed, as you clearly showed through Beowulf. Beowulf did not have to fight Grendel, he could have stayed on his homeland, but he chose to cross the waters and kill the monster for the Danes. What were his motives? I think you said it best: attention and affirmation.

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  2. Caroline TuckerFebruary 22, 2021 at 11:29 PM

    This is an aspect that is constantly seen in literature and history. There has not been one literature class in which this has not been talked about. It is a part of history and hopefully people will learn. The idea that Beowulf takes it to far is, in my opinion, correct and him doing so will come back to hurt him.

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