Beowulf's Self Pride example essay topic
404 words
The topic of my essay will explain how Beowulf becomes both a tragic hero and a proud fool. Beowulf becomes a world-renowned hero, but like many, his self-pride leads him to a horrible downfall, ultimately ending his life in tragedy. In the same way he becomes a proud fool by letting his ego overpower his rationale and as a result he makes a foolish decision that abandons the Geats forever. One instance that shows us he is a proud fool is when he first comes to visit Hrothgar. Beowulf comes before Hrothgar and asks for permission to rid Hrothgar's people of Grendel. When Hrothgar grants him his wish, Beowulf only wants he and his warriors, not Hrothgar's warriors, to aid him in the fight against Grendel. In a similar episode Beowulf decides that he will go alone to fight Grendel's mother. These two examples show that Beowulf has already placed himself to high.
In another instance Beowulf is even warned of his foolish ways. After the battle between himself and Grendel's mother, Beowulf of course comes back to Heo rot with his head held high. Hrothgar sees this and warns him by saying, Be warned, Beowulf, / learn the nature of nobility. (Line 1383-1384) What does he mean by this Hrothgar is telling Beowulf not to let his successes and fame go to his head, but use them to his advantage instead. In Beowulf's final conflict, his ego finally gets the better of him. When he hears that a dragon is occupying his land he decides to take matters into his own hands.
Only this time his strength and quick wits have become a little slower. He dismisses this and presses on into the dragons dwelling, alone. His battle doesn t go as planned and he is mortally wounded by the dragon. Beowulf's self pride leads to his own death. Near the end of the poem we learn of the tragic fate of the Geats: Thus the brave messenger told of and foretold / harrowing times; and he was not far wrong.
/ Those events were fated. (Lin 1990-1992) Beowulf, who saves all of Hrothgar's people by defeating Grendel and Grendel's mother, in a way, abandon's his own people by trying to defeat the dragon. His death marks the fall of the Geats.
