Theme Of Reputation In Beowulf

Reputation is merely the thought of how someone perceives you but when that thought is diminished it can change a whole situation. It's vital to know the importance of reputation because you would never call on somebody with a bad rep to help you out in a time of need or distress. Having a good or bad reputation dictates the way that people feel about you as well as what they think about you. Bringing me to my next point in the story of Beowulf, it's all about heroes and monsters. Seemingly the hero has a good reputation and the monster has a bad reputation in the story it talks about how having good reputation leads to praises from everyone and also fame. Praise and fame are the upside to having a good reputation but for the people or monster
early on in the story there is a distinct perception of how Beowulf is supposed to be viewed. Reason being is because the young prince who has recently heard about the gruesome killings done by Grendel has no doubt in his mind that he wants to sail to herot and help defeat Grendel. At that point when Beowulf agreed to help hrogarth it was evident that Beowulf had a reputation of being noble and brave. Not only did the young prince have a reputation for being brave but often a little boastful. Upon his arrival to herot "Beowulf is determined to set the record straight because any threat to his reputation would be disastrous"(enotes.com), so he let the people of herot know why he was certain to defeat Grendel."I drove five great Giants into chains and chased all of that race from the earth I swam in the blackness of night hunting the monsters in the ocean in killing them one by one." (Pg38). The appreciative Danes had a Banquet prepared for the geats and that night "Danes and visiting geats celebrated as one, drank and rejoiced"(pg39) this banquet was beneficial to hrogarth reputation because it showed the people of herot that the dark days are coming to a end, which as a king you should be able to ensure to all of your people. That night when Grendel came to the meadhall to find the geats waiting there was A gruesome battle that ended with the deafeat of Grendel. Saving the day Beowulf finally restored peace to the Danes but in the mist of all of that it glorified his reputation. "in the Anglo-Saxon culture a good reputation is respected greatly"(uke essay.com) in many events of the story you can tell that the geats and the Danes respect Beowulf greatly not because of his Noble actions but because he was very courageous. Beowulf will do anything for his reputation and stop at nothing to prove he's the great geat warrior for example " Beowulf fought Grendel