A CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS OF BEOWULF S FIRST AND THE LAST FIGHTING AGAINST TWO MONSTERS Salma Haque Assistant Professor haque_salma@yahoo.com Tahmina Akhter Lecturer tahminaiiuc@yahoo.com Department of English Language and Literature International Islamic University Chittagong Female Campus, Bahaddarhat, opposite Zia Smriti Park Chittagong, Bangladesh Abstract Beowulf, the epic, is a literary wonder of its time and the story of youth and old age of a monster-slaying hero Beowulf who fights three battles, with three monsters in three different purposes and strategies. These three battles are: his fighting against Grendel, his mother and the Dragon. The monsters are important to reveal the difference between youth and old age, the inevitable truth that man is mortal and the limitations of the hero. The objective of this paper is to show through the contrast of the first and the last fighting of Beowulf that the last fighting is a reckless decision of the hero as it is more dangerous than the first one for the fire-breathing Dragon is more precarious than the first fiend Grendel. Moreover, as a king he cannot undertake risk because the Dragon s death is the triumph over evil but his death symbolizes huge difference between hero and the king. At the same time we observe that hero or ruler can overcome monsters but cannot death.. Key words: Grendel, Dragon, youth, old age, Beowulf the hero, and as a king Beowulf, the most precious relic of Old English is a long record of terror, blood, glory, and death. In it monsters are closely associated with the slaying of friends and kinsmen (Leyerle, 37). The epic begins with the story of king Hrothgar of Denmark. Throughout the poem the narrator paints a picture of the perfect hero in the form of the protagonist, Beowulf. During his life, he was considered as a great warrior, not only to his kingdom, but throughout the world. In fact, it is about man and demons and narrates the rise and fall of the superhuman hero through his three fightings. As critic Brodeur suggests: The poet [144]
carefully reinforces and points his opposition of ends and beginnings... (Brodeur, 74). According to some critics this poem is divided between his fighting with Grendel and with the unnamed Dragon. This view of the structure as two-parts has generally prevailed since its inception in J.R.R Tolkien s Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics in Proceedings of the British Academy. All through the poem the hero is occupied in killing monsters and the three chief episodes are well-diversified. In Beowulf monster fightings draw readers attention greatly. Each fight of Beowulf with them shows an important part of his character. Actually, Beowulf s first encounter, the climax of the epic, reveals him as the strongest warrior around but the last one, the anti-climax of the poem, shows his helplessness in the hands of old age and death. In fact there is a change of temper between the wrestling with Grendel in the night at Heorot while the sentiment of the dragon is different. Each monster represents specific thing as it is never used in the great work meaninglessly. They play major antagonistic roles and appear as symbols of evils to God, man and beasts. The two monsters have something in common. Yet there is a strong contrast between them and the two fightings. The first menace Grendel receives little description. It appears to be a giant and is a descendent of Cain embodying resentment and malice. The Dragon, however, is not presented in such a fashion. It is plainly not human, creating a stark contrast to the other two antagonists. It is slippery, fire-breathing and fiercer than the first demon. It attacks human beings out of revenge for his stolen treasure and devastates the land quickly; whereas Grendel ravaged the hall for its loneliness and jealousy over the Danes for twelve years: Then a powerful demon, a prowler through the dark (ll-84-7) nursed a hard grievance. It harrowed him to hear the din of the loud banquet every day in the hall.. The first fight was fought when Beowulf was not a ruler but he fights against the Dragon as a king of the Geats. Grendel was not his responsibility but he rescued the people of his neighbouring kingdom for various reasons. He was inspired by glory and personal quest. He also traveled great distances to prove his strength at impossible odds against such supernatural demon for his knowledge about the vulnerability of Hrothgar, the Danish king, who was unable to win over it for his old age. Hence, Beowulf undertook a huge job all alone. However, his confrontation with the Dragon has one reason-to protect his people and he plans his revenge. In fact Beowulf makes a foolish decision to fight against the Dragon without speculating on the outcome of such a fight which is more dangerous than Grendel-fight. Furthermore, this task belongs to heroes. Hrothgar, the Danish king, exemplified this statement who sought protection for his people rather than fighting for them as he was old when his kingdom was attacked by Grendel for twelve years. He also knew that the duty of the king differed from the duty of a hero or warrior. As a result, he was not blamed anywhere for not facing Grendel in battle as his death could have been unsafe for his people. He also knew that a king s most important duty was to his people, and his survival was necessary for maintaining social stability, however, Beowulf forgets it in his old age and immediately decides to attack the fiend forgetting his limitations and the [145]
differences between youth and old age. So the last combat is inconsiderate but the first decision was rational. Even he did not take any warrior with him due to his over-confidence, pride and glory though fourteen well-chosen warriors accompanied him for Denmark for killing the first monster. The greatest battle in life lies within each man in the struggle to overcome personal vanity and pride. He is oblivious of this truth. Being over confident of his prowess, he is unwilling to share praise for his success with the retainers: Yet the prince of the ring was too proud to line up with a large army against the sky-plague. (ll- 2845-7) The setting of the first fighting was realistic as it took place at the magnificent hall of a foreign land of king Hrothgar. Contradictorily to fight against the Dragon, Beowulf follows it in its lair of his kingdom: Hard by the rock face that hale veteran, A good man who had gone repeatedly into combat and danger and come through, saw a stone arch and a gushing stream that burst from the barrow, blazing and wafting a deadly heat. (ll- 2542-7) The nature of the evils also differ greatly. Grendel was hungry for soul and it was treasure destroying. Accordingly Hrothgar failed to buy Grendel off with gold as it had no use of it. On the other hand, the Dragon is treasure guarding. The way the hero comes to know about the demonic attacks is also different. Beowulf found out the nightly assail of the bloodthirsty evil Grendel by a scop who sang a poem about Hrothgar s misfortune but Beowulf s own people give him the bad news about the Dragon s raid. Even no song is composed on it. Therefore, the news of his misfortune does not reach any outsider and nobody comes forward to rescue him and their people from grief. King Hrothgar also borrowed advice but Beowulf does not. Grendel had human emotions and was an outcast. However, the Dragon is without such emotions as Grendel is semi-human and the later is a complete demon. Thus Grendel symbolizes malice and the Dragon epitomizes evil and corruption. Grendel also lacked dragon traits such as a connection to venom or fire. At the first combat Beowulf was brave, charismatic, well-respected unanimously. Due to his decreasing military skill, old age and fears of death he cannot be the saviour of his distressed people during the last battle. In contrast, in the first fighting he was immensely hopeful about his success and there was prior jubilation at the prospect of his victory over the fiend. King Hrothgar and his queen thanked him for assuring them of hope and there was festive cheers :... the laughter started, the din got louder and the crowd was happy (ll- 611-2) The first victory was not only celebrated by a great feast and lavish gifts but also a bard sang his story to honour him; whereas after the last fight there is no celebration, rather the lamenting people prepare the funeral for their hero: [146]
pyre for Beowulf, The Geat people built a Stacked and decked it until it stood foursquare Hung with helmets, heavy shields And shining armor, just as he had ordered. (ll-3136-9) Despite being confident in the first fight, Beowulf is aware of mortality from the beginning and we find him sad, restless and frightened of his impending death as the nature of the two fightings is strikingly dissimilar: I shall win the gold By my courage, or else mortal combat, Doom of battle will bear your lord away. (ll-2535-7) Hrothgar thought the monster s attack was due to his pride of wealth. But after the attack of the Dragon Beowulf gets confused. He has always considered him to be a God-chosen protector of his people and-has also thought that God s grace will never end for him. When suddenly the fire-dragon terrorizes him he realizes that God has withdrawn His blessings from him. Now he must face it alone either for reward or for punishment: His mind was in turmoil Unaccustomed anxiety and gloom Confused his brain.. (ll- 2329-31). Thus Beowulf s first expedition combined strength, God s grace and virtues and during the last fight he loses some of his virtues and the blessings of God. In the first battle which symbolizes the clash of good and evil, Beowulf insisted Hrothgar earnestly to accept his proposal to fight with the monster because as a hero he wanted to seek glory in his youth. Moreover, God gifted thirty men s power in his single grip and so it was possible for him to use it against Grendel, but for the exceptionality of the Dragon he cannot apply his extraordinary power against it. So, we get a frustrating tone in his last fight. Though like Hrothgar he does not remain idle, he knows he is going to face molten venom from which he must get a fatal blow as the last one is the conflict between life and death. King Hrothgar showed his patience against the attack of Grendel as he wisely thought it would be a complete suicide if he faced the monster in his old age. He waited for twelve winters. Beowulf is totally opposite. He decides hurriedly and never wants to rely on anyone except himself for his great success in vanquishing Grendel forgetting the difference between youth and old age. He desires to be a sacrificial figure for his people in the last struggle which leads to his death and the insecurity of his people: This fight is not yours; Nor is it up to any man except me To measure his strength against the monster (ll-2532-5) During the first fight Beowulf got every opportunity to detect the loophole and [147]
weaknesses of Grendel which was a wellknown figure to all as many sad lays were sung on this curse of God. For twelve years he ravished the mead-hall it is a long time to know the extra-ordinary strength, attacking style and physical features of a monster. The hero also carefully watched its technique of attack. Whereas the Dragon is a sudden infliction. That is why, Beowulf cannot measure its power or technique of fighting against human beings. Fate favoured Beowulf in the first encounter but not in the last one. In the first struggle his target was mostly revenge. Therefore, Although Grendel s cave is rich in treasure, Beowulf takes away only a golden hilt and the severed head of Grendel; his object is to gain revenge not treasure (Leyerle,12). While in the last fighting he seeks treasure:... I give thanks That I behold this treasure here in front of me, That I have been allowed to leave my people So well endowed on the day I die. (ll-2795-2800) To Beowulf the first fight was an adventure, but the second one is a necessity for his subjects. After the settlement as a king, Beowulf gets fifty long years to build up a nation. But he is too self- dependent and never thinks of collaborative work. So his nation remains cowards and frightened. If we compare him with Hygelac, the king and his uncle, we find the uncle more successful than Beowulf.. Hygelac had hero like warriors who were ready to protect his people. Beowulf has no such fighters to guarding safe his people: Then Beowulf was given bad news, the hard truth: his own home, the best of buildings, had been burned to a cinder, the throne room of the Geats. (ll-2325-30) As the narration progresses, Beowulf learned the techniques as well as limitations of Grendel and waited for its unvarying arrival time which was also known to all; whereas he is unaware about the Dragon s way of fighting, its strength and weaknesses. It also remains a mystery even after its destruction. As the Geats are terrified of it, they do not dare to bring its lifeless body with them as a sign of booty which Beowulf did with Grendel s head after his successful killing of it. In one sense the hero is very helpless since Grendel targeted only the mead- hall. It came to the hall to pass the night. If it did not find anybody inside, left the place empty-handed and its power was limited to the vacant hall only. But the Dragon is quick, rough and vindictive and the whole nation have come under its power. Unferth, one of the Danish thanes questioned him about his ability to win before Beowulf s conflict with Grendel. [148]
Surprisingly nobody doubts his strength in his last fighting though he is very old. In contrast to Grendel s sharply focused attacks, the Dragon attacks widely and indiscriminately. Its awful and immeasurable anger is not directed at any person or object but to a large degree. Beowulf s hall is burnt not because it has a special significance for the attackers as Heorot did for Grendel, but simply because it happens to be in the Dragon s path. The Dragon s power cannot easily be measured by human standards and its aim is truly chilling in its scope; it does not seek control of one hall during the night but in the countryside surrounding its barrow. Unlike his earlier battle against Grendel, in his battle with the Dragon he receives serious neck injuries for his inability to differentiate his former and present strength. For this reason he cannot return from a situation where he is unable to gain victory over the monster as it is more dangerous than Grendel. Thus, Grendel taught him the truth of bravery and the value of everything. On the other hand, the Dragon s lesson is that nothing is important and all things go back to be nothing in the end.... some commentators view it as an essentially irresponsible act... (Bloom, 20). But his killing of Grendel is praised as an act of heroism, prudence, generosity and tact. The first battle was relatively easy for Beowulf; whereas during the last battle he needs weapons for getting victory for his weakness as a warrior. In the first combat Beowulf was unarmed but won as he was unstoppable, nevertheless in the last one despite using war -harness he does not win over the demon to give the message that... man is mortal himself (Kaske,14). Sometimes it is needed to break an old code only to set a new one. Beowulf was afraid of breaking the heroic code of single effort. Against the Dragon a combined effort was necessary which Beowulf failed to attain though he had all opportunity to establish a new example by taking the help from others as a king, Although in his youth he was modest and mild, repeatedly thanked God, he loses some of his humbleness with the passage of time. His grand victories make the veteran king show his pride against which king Hrothgar warned him years before immediately after his success in Grendel killing: Yet the prince of the rings was too proud To line up with a large army Against the sky plague. (ll-2345-8) Hence he begins to think that all conquests and the exceptional power of thirty men in one grip are his own attainments not the credit of God and considers him to be unparallel, does not need the help from anyone; even before his death does not call his comrades but earlier his warriors ran to his assistance with weapons against Grendel. Wiglaf, his dear retainer criticizes the cowardly thanes for not joining Beowulf: Let us go to him, Help our leader through the hot flame And dread of the fire. (ll-2648-50) Wiglaf also realizes the need of strong bonding between kings and soldiers but Beowulf cannot for his excessive pride of heroism and his inability to differentiate youth from old age. He [149]
thinks that he is the protector of his people, so proudly forgets to seek help from God: but as a king of the people I shall pursue this fight for the glory of winning, if the evil one will only abandon his earth-fort and face me in the open. (ll-2512-4) The Dragon is a sky plague, a curse for Beowulf. His conceit makes God angry and he snatches away the superman power from Beowulf. Consequently, during the last combat he loses the mercy of God, which he got when facing Grendel. On the eve of national crisis, Beowulf could have united the warriors as well as his people in the cause of insecurity. But he does not do it and his people get disconnected. So in the last combat he lacks wisdom which he showed in the first fight. Actually he forgets that in youth rulers can depend on strength but in old age they should rely on maturity and wisdom. Previously, Beowulf did not have the risk of leaving his people leaderless. During his last fighting, the question of selecting successor arises as he has not done it before. As the atmosphere of danger progresses through a society, a strong leader is crucial to unite the people of the region to support a common cause. This was the job of Beowulf but he fails to do it even in his extreme old age as he did not think of delegating his power to any other leader. Before confirming his successor, he risks his life by fighting against the firebreathing demon where he can be vanished any time. The poem suggests that, by sacrificing himself, Beowulf unnecessarily leaves his people without a king. Earlier he was not a ruler. So he could undertake great risk with Grendel. But A king s most important duty is to his people, and his survival is necessary for maintaining social stability.(www.ethesis.net/beowulf/beowulf.ht m) Irving also suggests When kings die or their power wanes, war and chaos ensue (Irving 33). Though he brought relief from Grendel and restored order in Denmark but after he last fighting: Loyalty dies, protection vanishes, and the good society disintegrates... the destructive fire, and social chaos succeeds the joys of the wine-hall. (Lee, 182) as he is no more. Sorrows will not be eased. Contradictorily, it will be renewed and Beowulf s death in the hands of the demon is the beginning of insecurity for the Geats soon it will be known Frisians, far and wide, gone. Now war is looming over our nation, to Franks and that the king is (ll- 2910-13) Unlike Beowulf s earlier battle against Grendel he receives serious injury and dies of the poisonous fangs of the Dragon. Because at the first fighting he was more powerful than the monster but the Dragon poses more risk for him. Consequently, he killed Grendel alone but with the aid of Wiglaf he succeeds in killing the beast: There was no way Beowulf could manage to get the better Of the monster with his sword. Wiglaf sits at Beowulf s side, the son of Weohstan, the living warrior watching by the dead, Keeping weary vigil, holding a wake [150]
loathed. (ll-2904-10) For the loved and the but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight for the glory of winning Although he fights for the protection of his people, they do not show their gratitude to him for undertaking risk; whereas the Danish celebrated his victory and he was gifted plentifully by the king. His first fight made the Danes happy and restored their hope. On the contrary, he makes an unwise decision to kill the Dragon in old age before confirming his heir. When he has lost consciousness only Wiglaf, his retainer, revives him with some water. His people for whom he has taken risk abandon him. Thogh his people bemoan the loss of their leader, do not jump to his rescue. They betray him by deserting the king. Only Wiglaf stays with him to confront the Dragon. He performs an important service for his coward, disloyal people: No help or backing was to be had then from his highborn comrades; that hand-picked troop broke ranks and ran for their lives to the safety of the wood. (ll-2596-99) Beowulf remains courageous for fame in his elder years as he did in his youth forgetting that he is no longer the young, eager man he was those many years ago though he still boasts: I risked my life Often when I was young. Now I am old, (ll-2511-3) In reality an overdose of courage turns into pride, and it comes before the fall, as Hrothgar warned Beowulf. There is a marked difference in disposition between the young Beowulf of the first half and the grey haired king of the second. His tone was confident in the first fight but in the last struggle his tone is sorrowful and he is less sure. Grendel killed men to quench his thirst for human blood, but the Dragon wanted revenge irresistibly. The contrasts also show that in old age one can prove him a wise and effective ruler but not a successful warrior as youthful combat differs from old one greatly. The qualities that make a good retainer blind courage and self-sacrifice for the sake of personal glory are very bad qualities for a king. Beowulf s obsession for power, name and fame monopolizes his mind, so even at the time of death he cannot seek pardon from God rather wants to see the treasure and gold: The beginning of an utterance Broke out from the king s breat-cage. The old lord gazed sadly at the gold. (ll-2792-93) The two evils are the combinations of human and inhuman characteristics. The poet s subtle use of language creates multiple layers of meaning for them. The dark nature of human immorality is witnessed in and defined by the two monsters actions. They become the cautionary figures warning against evil and prove, by horrific negation, the importance to human life of virtuous conduct. If we take the characters Grendel, Beowulf and the Dragon metaphorically we find the last battle is a blunder for the hero who is also a king. [151]
Grendel symbolizes an evil thane as he is semihuman. He disliked the happiness and brotherhood among the people of Heorot and desired to end them with his murderous raid. By destroying the essence of community, Grendel worked against the conception of friendship and brotherhood of the thanes. The Dragon also is representative of human evil and exists as a parody of the ideal kingship, his actions resembling those violent and evil rulers. He is a twisted incarnation of guardianship that extends dictatorial control over the kingdom, ignoring the laws. A King is an institution; individual protection against his rage is seer vanity as well as insanity. Before the last combat he forgets that fighting against a food seeker and fighting against a treasure hunter are not the same. First one is necessity, anybody can entrap it. But nobody can stand before a treasure hunter; nothing can fulfill its voracity except fatal combat. Thus the first fighting did not end in mutual destruction but the dragon- fightresults in double death. Hence it is courageous but rash. According to Margaret Goldsmith: Beowulf has grown arrogant and makes a mistake in fighting the dragon alone (Goldsmith, 19). Beowulf and the Danish king Shield Sheafson share incredible strength. Sheafson s violent tendencies diluted in his descendents- Beow and Hrothgar. They were nation builders, could move people, unite them under one royal www.ethesisi.net/beowulf/beowulf.htm house, towards centralized government which Beowulf failed. Analyzing Beowulf s two combats with the monsters, it can be said that through the contrasts some important truth has emerged. That is nobody can win over death, no matter how powerful a king is, as God not only gives life but also takes it from any person irrespective of his/her position in the world. References: Bloom, Harold. Beowulf, New York: Chalsea House Publishers, 2007. Brodeur, Arthur Gilchrist, The Art of Beowulf, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1954. Goldsmith, M.E., The Mode and Meaning of Beowulf. London: Athlone Press, 1970 Irving, Edward B.A Reading of Beowulf, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1968. Kaske, R. E. Critical Approaches to Six Major English Works. R. M. Lumianisky and Harshel Baker(ed.) Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press,1971. Ker, W. P. The Dark Ages, New York: Scribner s, 1911. Lee, Alvin A. The Guest-Hall of Eden: Four Essays on the Design of Old English Poetry, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1972. Leyerle, John, The Interlace Structure of Beowulf, University of Toronto Quaterly, 37, October, 1967. [152]