Aeneid Vs Beowulf Essay

The Iliad, the Aeneid, and Beowulf are epics where the protagonists are dominant male warriors. The behavior of Achilles, Aeneas, and Beowulf in battle becomes the standard for masculinity. Achilles rage or anger in battle gives him an edge over the rest of the warriors. Common characteristic of the three protagonists is their belief in fate and fearlessness towards death. The death of the three warriors occurs in battle and it represents the significance of glory. Based on the patterns noticed in the three epics to obtain glory a warrior must make sacrifices such as leaving behind their loved ones or detachment from emotions. The visuals of Beowulf holding the strength of thirty men in one arm or the strength of Achilles in battle are visual representations of masculinity.
In the Iliad, Achilles is a great warrior that has no match in the battlefield. Achilles can be identified as a man of rage. The Iliad starts with the following quote” Rage-Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus’ son
His home is conquered by the enemy, his wife is left behind during the flee, and by the decision of the gods he must leave dido to go to Italy. Virgil states “But Aeneas is driven by duty now” (Aeneid 496). Virgil sees the emotion of dido however; he refuses his emotions to come in the way of his duty. As a man, Aeneas disregards emotions and feelings for dido. It is similar to the modern day saying that men do not cry. The belief that emotions make men weaker still holds true in the modern day society. If Aeneas stays with dido, his peers would consider him less of a man and he would be unable to achieve glory. Virgil states that “In spite of all he obeys the gods’ commands and back he goes to his ships” (Aeneid 499-500). Virgil describes Aeneas’ decision to leave as a command from the gods and by doing so rationalizes his decision. Aeneas’ decision to follow his fate over his love shows the values of their