Essay: Beowulf’s gift: immense pride

Within many works of literature, there are instances where featured characters are presented with a certain gift, that of which is either figurative or literal. This gift could be a physical object that can help define or shape a character, or a trait that reveals someone’s qualities or nature, both having the ability to show a character’s highlights and faults. For instance, Frankenstein showed the complications of creating and abandoning life and in Hamlet, it was shown how determination can alter your actions. Keeping this same idea in mind, the motif of a gift is prevalent in Beowulf. Beowulf was written by an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet around 8th and 11th centuries. However, the story takes place years earlier between 5th and 6th century in Scandinavia. Beowulf, the hero of the story, is a Geat, as well as an incredible warrior. Wanting the men in the hall to be aware that he is the bravest of them all, his purpose serves to confidently and pridefully defend the Danes and King Hrothgar from enemies and monsters. Through the victory of defeating Grendel and his mother, he becomes King. Following a battle with a dragon, Beowulf meets a tragic ending due to the concern with his own image and pride over the fact that he was about to die. Although Beowulf’s pride allowed him to accomplish a great mission, it was also a factor that lead to his downfall. Though it is a great advantage to be full of pride, it is also one of Beowulf’s dilemmas throughout the story as through his immense pride, both that of himself and his abilities as a warrior, he refuses to accept defeat and this leads him to his demise.
Beowulf takes great pride within himself as he is an extraordinary warrior, however his self esteem was one of the main factors that influenced many of his actions, one of which ended up taking his life. Beowulf was known for his bravery, he fought in numerous battles and through this, he showed his power to others. These characteristics, helping him succeed, quickly gained him the title of being strong and worthy. Furthering his recognition, people praised him for defeating Grendel while weaponless. Though this strength of him seems like a complete advantage, it also made him out to be self-absorbed and conceited. Unferth, seeing Beowulf’s gift of pride more as cockiness, he tries to embarrass Beowulf by reminding him of a swimming contest from his past. Bothered and determined to prove him wrong, he says “But the truth is simple: no man swims in the sea as I can, no strength is a match for mine.” Here, Beowulf believes that he’s the strongest swimmer ever and is just boasting himself by mentioning how he slayed several monsters in the sea. Beowulf wants to make a name for himself and does so through his numerous victories. He is so concerned with his glory and the idea that he always needs to win to obtain satisfaction.
As well as Beowulf’s self pride, he is also boastful when it comes to his abilities as a warrior. When it comes to Beowulf discussing fighting Grendel, he confidently says he can beat him and claims that “Grendel is no braver, no stronger than I am! I could kill him with my sword; I shall not, easy would it be.” so he makes this fight harder on himself to prove how skilfull he is as a warrior and decides to go battle Grendel weaponless. Beowulf adds “I will meet him with my hand empty-unless his heart fails him, seeing a soldier waiting weaponless, unafraid.” By saying this, he wants to remind everyone in the hall that he is the greatest warrior of them all and defeat Grendel. Even with his incredible prowess, even King Hrothgar comes to tell him that his pride can be dangerous. King Hrothgar says “Do not give way to pride. For a brief while your strength is in bloom but it fades quickly.” And as it is implied, Beowulf’s pride proves to be dangerous later in his life when he faces a dragon. Older now, Beowulf decides to fight a dragon while looking for treasure. His pride and ego will not discourage him or let him get out of the battle. Beowulf says “When he comes to me I mean to stand, not run from his shooting flames, stand till fate decides which of us wins.” Here, Beowulf allows whatever outcome to occur and lets fate take its course. Still filled with pride and a headstrong attitude, when the dragon melted Beowulf’s sword, he kept fighting, subsequently leading to the dragon biting him. Because the dragon’s blood was poisonous, Beowulf died due to the bite. He continued to fight to go out in a memorable way. With both this fight and the one with Grendel, Beowulf went above and beyond in order to gain more glory and respect, but as the outcome states, he did die due to his overwhelming pride. He fought these dangerous battles to satisfy his ego and his excessive pride lead him to his death. If he had not been so self-absorbed and didn’t fight alone, his companions or the warriors on the journey could’ve helped him in battle or survive. Due to his pride and confidence that he could finish off the task himself, he denied any help that could’ve helped him live.
Through his immense pride, Beowulf has achieved the unthinkable: slaying monsters and defeating enemies, however, it lead him to his death as he wished to gain glory and complete this vigorous task on his own. With both the pride he had in himself and with his skills/abilities as a warrior, he did not accept the help from others and was even lectured by King Hrothgar on how pride can be dangerous. Beowulf was very successful, but he may have not felt satisfied or or proud of what he had done, and from these thoughts, he sought out to look for harder missions to prove to people that he is the best warrior of them all and satisfy his ego. All of his victories ignited his need for even more pride than he already had and continued fighting to achieve personal accomplishments he set out for himself. With strong pride as the story describes, the desires and wants for glory did lead him down a dangerous path, leading to his inevitable death.
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