Women in Beowulf
In the poem Beowulf the women play the role of peace-keepers at any cost. Among these women I will look closely at Wealhtheow, Grendel's mother and Hygd. Through all the women in Beowulf one can see a female perspective of honor, loyalty and social welfare. Wealhtheow is the picturesque queen. One sees this when she meets the nobles after Beowulf has defeated Grendel. The narrator explains how she is, ". . . mindful of customs, gold-adorned . . . the noble woman offered the cup . . ." (Norton 35). This imagery perfectly describes a queen. Wealhtheow is a role model of courtly behaviors and duties. She makes offerings to Beowulf and tells him to, ". . . Wear this ring . . . with good luck, and make use of this mail shirt from the people's treasure, . . ." (Norton 43) The queen is giving him gifts as tokens of appreciation and loyalty for what he has done for the Danes. She is a strong and positive figure in all the confusion and battle. Wealhtheow does have a private conversation with her husband. She
is inquiring about what he has said and replies, ". . . you would have the warrior for your son. . . . leave to your kinsmen folk and kingdom when you go forth to look on the Ruler's decree. . . ." (Norton 42). Wealhtheow is implying that she does not want Beowulf to have the thrown. This is not her being negative. She is being loyal to the family because the thrown should rightly be given to one of her sons. The queen thought she was doing what was good for her sons, but if she would have let Beowulf take the thrown the Danes would have been safe from the ploys of Hrothulf. Then Freawaru would not have ended up like Hildeburh. Freawaru's father Hrothgar implies, ". . . Such is no queenly custom for a woman to practice, though she is peerless,--that one who weaves peace. . ." (Norton 52). He is forcing her to marry to end a feud that ends in bloodshed and that is exactly what happened to Hildeburh. When one looks at Grendel's mother we see, as the narrator puts it, ". . . mother, women, monster-wife . . ." (Norton 43) who seeks to, ". . . avenge her sons death. . . . " (Nort
Some common words found in the essay are:
Wealhtheow Grendel's, Hildeburh Freawaru's, Swedes Hygelac, Hygd Wealhtheow, Hrothgar Beowulf, Women Beowulf, norton, Wealhtheow Hygd, grendel's mother, norton 43, norton 43, Lunsford ENG, Barbara Cook, wealhtheow grendel's mother, referred , mother hygd, avenge, replies , beowulf thrown, grendel's mother hygd, narrator , avenging son,
Approximate Word count = 730
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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