Beowulf the Archetypical Hero Essay Example for Free

Beowulf the prototypic Hero EssayAn type as defined by Carl Jung is a universal and innate prototype of behaviors that fit a person or character and define their characteristics and actions. The ace is a popular figure in many stories and is a well-defined pilot burner. For example the classic or mythical hoagie equivalent King Arthur, is one who has a mysterious birth of royal lineage, is spirited away as a child, guided on a journey to discover his past, prove his courage, win the princess and become king. Later this archetype loses favor, kingdom and his animation but his accomplishments form the foundations for the future.A nonher is the tragic hero who struggles against a fate predetermined by the gods and in the long run dies frustrated and unfulfilled. Beowulf represents yet another hero archetype, the Germanic hero. The Germanic hero archetype is defined by his wide speciality and intelligence and similar to the mythic hero, is a great warrior pass on to fa ce overwhelming odds and to fight to the close for the honor and safety of his people. Unlike the Mythic hero the struggles are less motivated by individualism and rather driven by a great sense of honor never to be exterminateed by selfish activities.Fin every last(predicate)y the archetypical Germanic hero must also exercise humility and restraint. Like all other heros this archetype also dies and with death comes destruction. The story of Beowulfs life demonstrates the building of his character into the archetypical Germanic hero. The story dejects with Beowulf on an epic quest where he go away define himself as a coercive and courageous warrior and also one of great honor. When Beowulf arrives at Heorot he meets Hrothgar the ruler of the kingdom and immediately states that he has come to defeat Gr destroyel who has been terrorizing the land for twelve years.Consistent with the archetype of the Germanic hero we are introduced to the acquaintance of Beowulfs great strength. As Hrothgar proclaims Beowulfs merits, he states that he has heard of his awesome strength and declares a thane with the strength of thirty in the grip of each hand. (380-381) The reader is then given the knowledge that the quest is not simply designed to prove Beowulfs great strength and courage but rather to define him as an honorable man not motivated by the selfish desire, but rather a great desire to act honorably.This is demonstrated by Hrothgar recounting his memory of him as a young son with his father. The story then departs and tells of how Beowulfs father had killed Heatholaf a member of the Wulfing tribe. Hrothgar had ended what could suck up been a bloody dispute by giving shelter to the Wulfings with the result that Beowulfs father swore allegiance to Hrothgar. Through this lens we understand the Beowulf is not simply here to slay a monster but that there is even deeper meaning to this quest, he his here for the honor of his family, to repay a debt and to honor th e allegiance sworn to Hrothgar by his father.Beowulfs stretch in Heorot also demonstrates Beowulfs intelligence and self-confidence when his courage and honor are questioned by Unferth who accuses him of losing a swimming race with Breca. Beowulf defends himself by recanting his own side of the story boasting that he was drug downhearted into the sea by a sea monster which he killed and then killed eight others. Even though this is a boast, Beowulf is able to convey the idea that the competition between he and Breca is not one ground on personal vanity but rather a respectful match between friends.Beowulf ultimately puts Unferth in his place and defends his honor by telling him that he (Unferth) was a killer of his brothers, and could not feature battled the sea monsters because he could not even defeat a single monster such as Grendel. You killed your own kith and kin, so for all your cleverness and quick tongue, you will suffer damnation in the depths of hell. The circumstance is, Unferth, if you were truly as keen or courageous as you claim to be Grendel would never have got away with such unchecked atrocity, attacks on your king,havoc in Heorot and horrors everywhere. (587-594) This shifting of the focus from being impeach of defeat to the public reclaiming of his heroic attitude while stopping Unferth without further argument defines Beowulfs intelligence and secures his status and heroic reputation with the Danes. The ensuing battle between Beowulf and Grendel further defines this heroic archetype by defining Beowulfs prowess as a warrior and his immense strength. As the battle commences the reader is shown a mighty and mightily monster that not even Beowulfs men could defeat.Beowulf meets the enemy on equal terms, unclad with armor and with no weapon but brute force. Beowulf quickly dismembers Grendel and the monster runs from the Mead Hall to its death. This demonstration of Beowulfs super human strength, high spirits and warrior powers defin es this hero as a godlike figure that is immensely powerful. In the morning when the Danes return and begin to celebrate, Beowulf shows the humility and restraint that is characteristic of this archetype by stating that Nevertheless,/ if you could have seen the monster himself/ where he lay beaten, I would have been better pleased.He does not boast of his accomplishments nor does he exercise selfish desire for treasure or power. Even though this battle has defined Beowulf as a mighty and godlike warrior he never attempts to act in anyway to usurp the authority, leadership or power of Hrothgar even though he was not strong enough to defeat Grendel and could easily have tried to take the weed. Although Beowulf has defeated the adversary that he came to kill, Grendels mother is still terrorizing the kingdom, in seek of revenge for her sons death. subsequently Grendels mother returns to the residence and retrieves his arm and claw, Beowulf is offered more treasure and fame to kill Gr endels mother. Beowulf could leave and return to Getland having satisfied the debt owed to his father but or else demonstrates devotion to Hrothgar and agrees to battle Grendels mother. The unfaltering courage of the hero is demonstrated by his facing of evil in the dismal wood (1414) and ultimately his plunge into the bottomless lake to battle Grendels mother. After an epic battle Beowulf returns to Heorot with Grendels head.To fatten up the picture of the hero and end the story of the early life of Beowulf, Hrothgar praises Beowulf after his victory but cautions him on the evils of pride by using the example of a king named Heremod who was not generous and allowed arrogance to destroy him. Taking this to heart Beowulf symbolically casts off arrogance the following day by returning the hilt of a sword given him by Unferth who had initially challenged Beowulf upon his arrival to Heorot. The middle part of Beowulfs life deepens the sense of Beowulf as the Germanic hero.He remains l oyal while keeping his ambition in check and go on to be virtuous in all of his activities. Hygelac is shortly after killed in battle and Beowulf is given the fortune to take the throne from Heardred as he was viewed as weak Both owned land by birth in that country, ancestral grounds but the greater right and sway were inherited by the higher born. (2197-2199). But Beowulf declines opting instead to faithfully follow and support Heardred. At some point Heardred is killed and Beowulf assumes the throne legitimately and with honor.He then rules for fifty years during which Beowulf bore himself with valor he was formidable in battle yet behaved with honour and took no advantage(2177-2179). He ruled it well for fifty winters, grew old and brisk as warden of the land (2108-2110). Beowulf has taken to heart the earlier words of Hrothgar and not allowed pride to destroy him thereof he has assumed nearly all living aspects of the Germanic hero archetype. The last phase of Beowulfs life completes the final aspects of the Germanic hero.Near the end of Beowulfs life a dragon is awakened and is terrorizing his kingdom. After the deaths of many of his men he is confronted with a decision as to whether or not he should vent a brigade of men to try to stop the dragon or face it himself. Although old and maturement weak, in an act of selfless courage to save his kingdom and prove his honor once again, he decides to face the dragon. With the help of his loyal thane Wiglaf, the dragon is defeated but Beowulf is mortally wounded and approaching the end of his life.The final characteristic of the Germanic hero, death and destruction, is symbolized by the destruction to Beowulfs land wrought by the dragon and the encroaching armies of surrounding nations. Without the hero all that has been gained is lost and destroyed by old enemies that will bring further destruction and loss to what the hero had created, Now war is looming/ over our nation, soon it will be known/ to Franks and Frisians, far and wide, / that the king is gone. (2911-2914).As Beowulf dies what he has created is destroyed and the picture of the Germanic hero is complete. According to Carl Jung the archetype resides in the unconscious mind as a pattern or image. The instauration of such a form can only be made visible by purpose the pattern in images, art religions or myths. The tale of Beowulf clearly illustrates the archetypal pattern of the Germanic hero. As the story develops the reader sees Beowulf fully develop the characteristics of the Germanic hero.Beowulf begins his life obscurely but matures to be the strongest and bravest of all great warriors, never willing to back down from a battle and always motivated by honor and the need to protect his people. He becomes a great and fair king who is respected by all and treats everyone fairly and with kindness. Ultimately Beowulf faces the final assault on his people and although he triumphs his life is forfeit. With his death comes t he end of the heros journey and fulfills the Germanic hero archetype.