Patriarchy In Beowulf Essay
Beowulf: The Influence of Male Dominance and Patriarchy
In the epic poem Beowulf, it is clear that males dominated society. During Anglo-Saxon times males were viewed as strong leaders and protectors and were expected to be kings, princes, and/or warriors. There are several female characters that appear in Beowulf, but they can easily be overlooked and are submissive to the male characters. Patriarchy is essential to the poem because the system of society was heavily based on the males of each generation. Male dominance and patriarchy played a major role in Beowulf and it was influenced by the historical time period in which it was written.
The male characters in Beowulf were characterized as powerful and wise, so whenever conflict arose it was expected for the male society to handle it. When Beowulf heard about Grendel’s attack on the Danes he felt obligated to go above and beyond to help them. He knew that he was capable of defeating Grendel and he wanted everyone to see that he was a true hero. Every situation that was of importance in the poem was focused on the male society. Excluding Grendel’s mother, if the women in Beowulf were …show more content…
In Anglo-Saxon society males were the head of their households, leaders, protectors, and warriors, while women were peacemakers, motivators, and cupbearers. In most accounts of the Anglo-Saxon lifestyle women are completely excluded because the male role is so dominant. In Beowulf, the women that are mentioned are all queens except for Grendel’s mother. In the poem Wealthow, Hrothgar’s queen, serves as a peacemaker and a cupbearer. After Beowulf defeated Grendel she assured him that she was thankful for his heroic deed as she passed the cup of mead to him and the other men in the mead-hall. Wealthow’s character is probably the most developed of all of the women in the poem, however, her role does not compare to the role of the
In the epic poem Beowulf, it is clear that males dominated society. During Anglo-Saxon times males were viewed as strong leaders and protectors and were expected to be kings, princes, and/or warriors. There are several female characters that appear in Beowulf, but they can easily be overlooked and are submissive to the male characters. Patriarchy is essential to the poem because the system of society was heavily based on the males of each generation. Male dominance and patriarchy played a major role in Beowulf and it was influenced by the historical time period in which it was written.
The male characters in Beowulf were characterized as powerful and wise, so whenever conflict arose it was expected for the male society to handle it. When Beowulf heard about Grendel’s attack on the Danes he felt obligated to go above and beyond to help them. He knew that he was capable of defeating Grendel and he wanted everyone to see that he was a true hero. Every situation that was of importance in the poem was focused on the male society. Excluding Grendel’s mother, if the women in Beowulf were …show more content…
In Anglo-Saxon society males were the head of their households, leaders, protectors, and warriors, while women were peacemakers, motivators, and cupbearers. In most accounts of the Anglo-Saxon lifestyle women are completely excluded because the male role is so dominant. In Beowulf, the women that are mentioned are all queens except for Grendel’s mother. In the poem Wealthow, Hrothgar’s queen, serves as a peacemaker and a cupbearer. After Beowulf defeated Grendel she assured him that she was thankful for his heroic deed as she passed the cup of mead to him and the other men in the mead-hall. Wealthow’s character is probably the most developed of all of the women in the poem, however, her role does not compare to the role of the