The Humanness of Mistakes

A detailed Summary of The Humanness of Mistakes


It has often been said that, "To error is human". As a human race we are prone to mistakes. They are, essentially, what separates us from the divine and define our humanness. Hrothgar best illustrates humanism in these regards within the epic "Beowulf". Hrothgar's characteristics as a king, especially in regard to his short-comings and inequalities compared to Beowulf, provide the quintessential matter for the reader to identify with Hrothgar on a human level throughout the majority of the epic. This humanistic comparison between reader and character can not be made with Beowulf until the last section of the epic. It is not until Beowulf is an aged ruler nearing the end of his days that his human characteristics emerge allowing the reader to associate with the epic's hero on a human plane.

Hrothgar's inequalities to Beowulf are illustrated from the onset of the poem's description of the two characters. Upon Beowulf's first arrival to the Shieldings' land he is immediately described as possessing characteristics that sur


pass those of Hrothgar. Wulfgar describes Beowulf saying, "Nor have I seen a mightier man-at-arms on this earth than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken, he is truly noble" (Beowulf, 247-250). Wulfgar's description makes immediate reference to his king, Hrothgar, weather unintentionally or not. Even Wulfgar, "...a Wendel chief renowned as a warrior..." (Beowulf, 347-349) overlooks Hrothgar's characteristics as a nobleman and describes Beowulf as Hrothgar's superior in war and stature. Beowulf is immediately portrayed as a divine figure to which the reader cannot associate himself. This is a notion that is only further exemplified as the epic unfolds and Beowulf's ability as a warrior and ruler are continuously magnified beyond a human level; beyond Hrothgar's level.

This pattern of Beowulf's divine superiority and Hrothgar's humanness continues throughout the epic until Beowulf's battle with the dragon. It is not until this point in the epic that the reader is made to see that Beowulf is, in fact, human and capable of mistakes. Beowulf ill

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Approximate Word count = 711
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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