There are a few female characters in Beowulf, and they all have different roles. We’ll take a look at each one and compare them. The first is Queen Wealhtheow. She is Beowulf’s queen, and she plays an important role in the story. She is a symbol of peace, and she always tries to make sure that everyone is getting along. She also gives Beowulf gifts to show her appreciation for him.
Next, there is Grendel’s mother. She is a very fierce character, and she doesn’t seem to care about anything except revenge. She goes after Beowulf and his men, and she does everything she can to kill them.
Finally, there is Beowulf’s wife, Hygd. She is a very calm and peaceful character. She never gets angry, and she always tries to see the best in people. She is a good match for Beowulf, and she helps him stay calm during difficult times.
So, what can we learn from these female characters? First of all, they each have their own unique personality. Secondly, they all play important roles in the story. Finally, they each offer something different to Beowulf and his men.
The Old English epic poem Beowulf is about a brave hero and his battles against evil monsters. The story primarily revolves around male elements such as fight descriptions, depictions of armor, and long inspiring speeches. However, the epic also features significant roles for women who are far from being one-dimensional characters. There are numerous female Beowulf figures; this paper will concentrate on three of them: Queen Wealhtheow of the Danes, queen Hygd of the Geats, and Grendel’s mother.
The role of women in Beowulf is a very important and complex topic. In the beginning, it seems that their purpose is to show the power and authority of the male characters. For example, queen Wealhtheow always kneels before her husband king Hrothgar and offers him a drink from her cup, as a sign of respect (Beowulf ll.180-181). She also gives speeches praising Beowulf and his achievements. However, as the story progresses we see that the women are not just there for decoration or to serve men. They are strong and capable in their own right.
Queen Hygd, for example, is able to rule Geatland after her husband’s death and she is a good and wise leader (Beowulf ll. 2290-2304). She also shows her strength when she defends her kingdom against the attack of the Swedes. Grendel’s mother is another example of a powerful female character. Even though she is not a queen, she is able to kill many men and cause destruction. She is also very determined and fierce; it takes Beowulf three fights to finally kill her.
Although these female characters have different backgrounds and personalities, there are some parallels between them. They are all strong women who are not afraid to fight for what they believe in. They are also all mothers; queen Wealhtheow has two sons, queen Hygd has a son and Grendel’s mother has a son. This may seem like a coincidence but it is actually very significant. It shows that these women are not just one-dimensional; they are capable of both fighting and nurturing.
The three female characters in Beowulf are very complex and interesting. They defy the stereotype of the passive, submissive woman and instead they are strong and determined. They show that women can be just as powerful as men and they are an important part of the Beowulf story.
Young Heaetheow is an excellent hostess and devoted queen and wife. Her official duties as the queen are first displayed in the poem: “Wealhtheow, Hrotgar’s queen, entered in observing courtesies; she was adorned in gold and greeted the males graciously at the hall’s door before passing on to Hrotgar, who took up his cup” (lines 612-623). The Helming woman went on her rounds, queenly and dignified, decked out in rings (line 624), offering the goblet to all ranks with grace.
She is a woman of authority who knows her place in the world and how to carry herself with dignity. Grendel’s mother, on the other hand, is a wild and ferocious creature. She is not afraid to attack Beowulf and his men even though she is outnumbered. Grendel’s mother also lacks any sense of etiquette or propriety.
When she first confronts Beowulf, she “roared aloud and lifted her head/ brandishing the bloody claws, seeking revenge” (lines 968-969). Unlike Wealhtheow, Grendel’s mother does not care about protocol or social conventions. She is driven by rage and violence, which makes her a very dangerous opponent.
Both Wealhtheow and Grendel’s mother are strong and determined women, but they differ in their approach to life. Wealhtheow is gracious and composed, while Grendel’s mother is savage and unruly. They are both fascinating characters in their own right, and they contribute to the richness of Beowulf’s world.
We observe that she fights well and has the qualities of a great warrior if she was almost able to overcome Beowulf, and assuming the male responsibilities of avenging her dead child. “It is always preferable to avenge dear ones than to grieve” (lines 1384-1385), says Beowulf to Hrotgar. Taking vengeance for a combatant’s death is admirable, but Grendel’s mother is condemned by the poet – she cannot be honorable since she isn’t truly human; this idea stems from her status as an aberration rather than as a female.
The poet remains silent about Grendel’s father and it is possible that the Beowulf poet did not know anything about him. Beowulf does not mention Grendel’s mother in his boastful speech to Hygelac before the fight with Grendel. It is significant that Beowulf fights Grendel’s mother single-handedly while he had assistance from other thane when fighting Grendel. This might suggest that Beowulf considered Grendel’s mother as a more formidable opponent than Grendel himself. In addition, Beowulf allows her to escape alive, which goes against the warrior code of conduct.
Some critics argue that Beowulf shows consideration for Grendel’s mother because she is a woman. Beowulf might have spared her life because he considered her as someone who was not capable of defending herself since she was a woman. Beowulf did not kill Grendel’s father because it was not a “manly deed” but it does not mean that Beowulf showed consideration for him as a human being. Beowulf may have killed Grendel’s father if he had the opportunity to do so.
In conclusion, the poet seems to suggest that female characters are not as honorable as male characters and they should not be held to the same standards.
