Hrothgar and Humility Essay Example

with his troops to come to Hrothgar’s aid. Hrothgar is beyond pleased that Beowulf is there to champion his people. Not long after his arrival at Herot, he battles Grendel and annihilates him in a gruesome battle. Grendel’s mother sets out to avenge her son’s death and Beowulf defeats her in battle as well. Hrothgar expresses his deepest gratitude. He rewards Beowulf with treasures and gold, and bestows upon him the honor of accepting him as a son in his heart.

Although Hrothgar is truly grateful to Beowulf for ridding his kingdom of Grendel, he feels he must give glory to God. For he believed it was God’s will that brought Beowulf to him for this particular purpose. He spoke:

“For this sight let us swiftly offer thanks to the Almighty! Much have I endured of dire grief from Grendel, but God may always work, Shepherd of glory, wonder upon wonder.” (lines 928-931, Liuzza) Beowulf basks in the glory and gratitude of the Danes. Even after hearing Hrothgar give the ultimate credit for the victory to God, Beowulf still continues on boasting of his encounter with the demon and his mother. He partakes in a great celebration with Hrothgar and his people. During this celebration, Hrothgar feels that it is his duty to warn Beowulf of what will become of him if he succumbs to his pride and arrogance. His speech is worded carefully, as not to reproach Beowulf for his swaggering behavior.

Hrothgar presses to Beowulf that while it’s acceptable to be pleased with yourself over your accomplishments, one must never forget that God made it all possible. If man becomes too obsessed with pleasure and is

overcome with the sins of pride and arrogance then he is sure to lose God’s favor. He recounts the tale of Heremod, elaborating on how he became overly consumed with himself and forgetting that he is but a human and will one day fall prey to illness or age. After being such a self-absorbed king, his people were glad to be rid of him. As a human, one must always be aware of his mortality. He then goes on to use his own life’s experiences as an example. He tells Beowulf that he, too, was once a mighty warrior-king, but he has aged and can no longer confront evil as he once did. But, he tells Beowulf that he realizes this, and in turn feels that this is why God has sent him to champion his people.

Hrothgar’s speech ties in with the Christian themes of the poem by elucidating God’s presence in our lives. He emphasizes the need for humility. His belief in God has paved a foundation that he bases all aspects of his life around. Consideration of the fellow man is essential. He reveres Beowulf far too much not to warn him of the disasters that are sure to follow if he does not value more than pride. He spoke:

“Defend yourself from wickedness, dear Beowulf, best of men, and choose the better, eternal counsel; care not for pride, great champion! The glory of your might is but a little while; soon it will be that sickness or the sword will shatter your strength, or the grip of fire, or the surging flood, or the cut of a sword, or the flight of a

spear, or terrible old age - (lines 1758 - 66, Liuzza) Hrothgar’s speech also foreshadows events to come, giving readers some insight as to how Beowulf’s elderly years conclude.

After watching Beowulf defeat Grendel and his mother and listening to his boasts, Hrothgar learns something about himself. “God’s mercy, working through Beowulf’s selfless courage, reveals to Hrothgar his own folly; he then, in his new-found wisdom, warns the young hero of the dangers he will face when he comes to power.” (Goldsmith 379). In the second half of the poem, Beowulf is recognized as the king of the Geats. As one reads, one notices that Beowulf is still a prideful and arrogant warrior. However, he must have heeded some of Hrothgar’s advice because he became a king loved by all his people.

The epic tale of Beowulf portrays a Christian element throughout the duration of the poem. The reader is reminded that one should not rely so heavily on pride. The practice of humility and the realization of God’s glory is the true path to happiness in this world and the world beyond. This poem also reminds the reader that one day, he too, will fall victim to his own mortality, regardless of super-human strength he may possess. It is important to live your life in a manner that pleases God, and to remember that all things are possible through Him.