Beowulf - The Ideal Hero Essay -- Epic of Beowulf Essays

Achilles, Beowulf, Gilgamesh, Samson and Heracles can all be characterized as milles. However, each of these characters embodies different attributes that earn them the high-fl aver distinction. This paper will render to show that Beowulf is the most heroic figure based on his inclination to the heroic ethos. Also, the character of Gilgamesh will be used as a means of comparison to further showcase the heroic nature of Beowulf. The heroic ethos is a set of values that prioritize and glorify the valor of an individual. The motivating of the hero is to garner fame and immortality in legend, resulting in feats of excellence. Characteristics of the heroic ethos include value to people in the upper level of the hierarchy (e.g. relationship surrounded by lord and thane), a special relationship to deity (special does non inevitably mean positive as in the case of Heracles and Hera), bang-upness in warf ar/slaying, loyal, courageous, indispens fit, and (almost) invulnerable. For t he hero, the highest good is glory and the highest evil is shame.Beowulf, the son of Ecgtheow and Hygelacs thane is introduced by Heaney as a valiant warrior. The reader immediately notices that Beowulf is well respected. The aroma of the work suggests that even out the narrator h gagas him in high esteem, the man whose epithet was known for courage, the Geat Leader (Heaney, 11) (the chapter is entitled The Hero comes to Heorot). Beowulf is introduced with eminenteur. He is allowed to mention his own name and goes on to describe some of his feats, They had seen me boltered in the blood of enemies, when I battled and bound five beasts, raided a troll nest and slaughtered sea brutes (Heaney, 13). forwards actually seeing him in action, the reader is aware that Beowulf is a great warrior whose father is well respected. From the initial introduction, it is expected that Beowulf will be able to accomplish super human tasks. Similarly, Gilgamesh is also given a grand introduction. H e is described as, the strongest one of all, the perfect, the terror (Ferry, 4). However, the overall view of Gilgamesh is not as honorable as Beowulf. The people of Uruk are lamenting to the god Aruru (Ferry, 5)Neither the fathers son nor the wife of the noble is unassailable in Uruk neither the mothers daughter nor the warriors bride is safe. The old men say Is this the shepherd of the people? Is t... ...fraid of its magnitude. In Gilgamesh, the Gods are humanized. They submit to desire (as seem with Ishtar when she is lusting after Gilgamesh) and revenge (the flood). In Gilgamesh, the Gods are this instant involved in some of the action. In Beowulf, God is a oral presence. In both Gilgamesh and Beowulf, the heroes had a relationship with God/Gods. However, as depict above, these relationships were very different. Beowulf had a direct spiritual connection while Gilgamesh questions the actions and even opposes one of them (Ishtar).Beowulf and Gilgamesh are both deemed heroes. According to heroic ethos, Beowulf proves to be the more than valiant, law abiding one. He embodies the necessary characteristics of the Anglo Saxon/Germanic hero (courage, loyalty, and greatness in warfare/battle). However, it can also be argued that Gilgamesh is a great hero because of his divergence from the classical heroic model. Many readers are able to connect more with Gilgamesh because of his humanness. In the end, he comes to register that death is a part of life and that one can quiet live on forever through their accomplishments (for him, it would be through Uruk).