Is Beowulf An Ideal King Or Hero?

When it comes to considering if Beowulf is an ideal king and hero, it is hard to look at both as under the same category, therefore, it needs to be separated into two parts; king or hero. Beowulf is not an ideal king but he is an ideal hero. There are characteristics of his actions that make him a satisfying king but he also lacks a lot of other characteristics. Beowulf as a king is very arrogant. As said in the story, “the old and young rejoiced” (line 143), just like Beowulf had intended them too. Beowulf had no reason to face and fight Grendel other than to gain fame. Beowulf had to travel to find the land that was under Grendel's curse. It’s not like Beowulf had been directly affected by Grendel. When he defeated Grendel, he gained fame, riches, and the throne. That is what he wanted from the beginning.
Beowulf was strong as heard in line 78 “hell’s captive caught in the arms of him who of all men on earth was the strongest”. He was stronger than any man out there and that is what helped he defeat Grendel. Beowulf fought Grendel whose skin “the points could not hurt him, the sharpest and hardest of iron, could not scratch his skin, for that sin-stained demon had bewitched all men’s weapons”. (line 91-93) but yet Beowulf without a weapon brought Grendel to his death. Beowulf had to fight Grendel with pure strength and capability with no help from other warriors around. This is what a hero is. Risking his own life to stop a monster with his pure