The Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf parallels its titular character with other kings to highlight Beowulf’s qualities. In the epic, which was transcribed by Christian monks around the eighth century AD, takes place in fifth and sixth century Denmark and Sweden. Beowulf, a thane of the Geat king, Hygelac, demonstrates his prowess as a warrior; however, his reign over the Geats reveals the negative impacts of some of his qualities. While a cursory examination of the work may paint Beowulf as a great king, such an assessment conflates his success as a warrior with his time as a king. In reality, Beowulf possesses numerous flaws which lower his effectiveness as a leader. The author of Beowulf examines Beowulf’s legacy, arrogance, and excessive hunger for glory through combat to emphasize the shortcomings of Beowulf’s reign.
The differences between the legacies of Shield Sheafson and Beowulf illustrate Sheafson’s superiority as a king. While introducing Sheafson at the beginning of the poem, the author discusses Sheafson’s legacy through the description of Sheafson’s son, Beow. He states that Beow is “prudent like that, / giving freely while his father lives / so that afterward in age when fighting starts / steadfast companions will stand by him and / hold the line” (20-24). The mention of Sheafson’s son illustrates that Sheafson has taken steps to forge a stable legacy by fathering a son. Additionally, the use of “prudent” underscores the wisdom that Sheafson has instilled in Beow to carry forward his society. Such wisdom indicates a foresight for future generations which signifies a great leader. Furthermore, “steadfast” connotes stability, which emphasizes the stability of Sheafson’s legacy. The visual imagery of Beow calling his allies to “stand with him and hold the line” underscores the protective network of allies forged as a result of Sheafson’s efforts. Thus, stability is achieved which lasts well beyond Sheafson’s death. By contrast, Beowulf’s legacy does not fare well under the author’s scrutiny. Near the end of the epic, after the death of Beowulf, Wiglaf reminds his people that “now war is looming / over our nation, soon it will be known / to Franks and Frisians, far and wide, / that the king is gone” (2910-2913). Wiglaf’s warning underscores the fact that despite Beowulf’s supremacy during his life, he has done little to keep enemies at bay once he dies. Additionally, the negative connotation of “looming” highlights the severity of the danger that will befall Beowulf’s kingdom after his death because of his failure to forge a stable legacy for his kingdom. Furthermore, the alliteration of “Franks,” “Frisians,” and “far” emphasize the multitude of enemies eager to attack Geatland, contrasting with Beow’s ability to call his allies to stand with him and further illustrating the significance of Beowulf’s inability to keep his kingdom safe after his passing. Beowulf’s lack of a son strongly contributed to his lack of a stable legacy. While Sheafson had a son to whom he passed on his kingdom, Beowulf was forced to pass Geatland to Wiglaf who, while a formidable warrior, could not protect the Geats alone. Ironically, as a result of his might as a warrior, Beowulf’s people became reliant on him, and could not defend themselves after his death, particularly as he had failed to cultivate sufficient allies and had not left the Geats with a true heir to carry on his legacy.
The author of Beowulf also demonstrates Beowulf’s flaws as a king by using another king, Hrothgar, to highlight Beowulf’s excessive pride. As Beowulf prepares to return to the Geats after defeating Grendel’s Mother, Hrothgar warns him to “Beware of that trap. / Choose, dear Beowulf, the better part, / eternal rewards. Do not give way to pride” (1758-1760). Hrothgar’s advice to Beowulf illustrates Hrothgar’s wisdom. Despite the culture of pride in which Hrothgar exists, he knows the dangers of excessive pride. By using “trap” as a metaphor for pride, Hrothgar underscores the idea that excessive pride has only negative consequences. The religious diction of “eternal reward,” used in conjunction with “Do not give way to pride,” compares pride to a tempting sin. Such diction is used by the Christian authors of Beowulf to imply that Beowulf’s pride is against God and therefore wrong. Contrasting with Hrothgar’s sound advice, Beowulf later succumbs to his pride when the Dragon attacks the Geats. As Beowulf prepares to fight the Dragon, he tells his people that the oncoming battle is “not yours, / nor is it up to any man except me” (2532-2533) Beowulf’s statement to his people reveals his excessive pride as demonstrated by his inability to share the fight against the dragon. Additionally, he arrogantly maintains that he is capable of defeating the dragon alone, despite his old age and physical deterioration. Thus, Beowulf does not heed Hrothgar’s warning, as he does indeed “give way to pride.” Hrothgar’s views on pride demonstrate his prudence as a leader, a quality that Beowulf does not share. This contrast further demonstrates that Beowulf lacks the qualities of a great leader.
Finally, the author of Beowulf demonstrates Beowulf’s inadequacies by comparing his hunger for glory from battle with that of Hrothgar. When Hrothgar is introduced at the beginning of the epic, the author states that after his initial conquests “his mind turned / to hall-building: he handed down orders / for men to work on a great mead-hall” (67-69). Hrothgar’s focus on “hall-building” highlights his priority to bettering his kingdom rather than earning further glory in battle. The positive connotation of “mead-hall” underscores the benefits of public works rather than warfare, further proving Hrothgar to be a good king. Additionally, Hrothgar’s restraint in ceasing his conquests depicts a strong quality in the ability to resist the temptation of glory. Therefore, Hrothgar holds the good of his people over his own glory, making him a selfless king. Furthermore, his avoidance of combat both keeps his kingdom out of costly wars, but also shows his wisdom to resist the warrior culture of his time in order better his kingdom. Later in the epic, as Beowulf prepares to face his ultimate battle against the dragon, he tells his people why he wishes to fight the Dragon: “Now I am old, / but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight / for the glory of winning” (2512-2514). While Beowulf may wish to protect his people, he asserts that he also wishes for “the glory of winning.” As such, while his motives may initially appear self-less, he actually still wants glory. Additionally, Beowulf’s use of “winning” is ironic because while he does win in the short-term, he also dies, which leaves his kingdom with a dangerous future. Beowulf’s actions demonstrate a lack of foresight to see beyond himself and the consequences of his death for the future of his kingdom. While Hrothgar kept his people’s interests above his own, Beowulf cared more for glory than the overall benefit of his people.
Beowulf’s unstable legacy, arrogance, and craving for combat reveal his inferiority to other great kings in the epic. While such arrogance and hunger for battle may be useful for a warrior, they demonstrate that, as a king, Beowulf is unable to look past being a warrior to see the bigger picture. As such, while Shield Sheafson and Hrothgar leave their kingdoms thriving after their deaths, Beowulf leaves his kingdom with an unsure future. Additionally, unlike Sheafson and Hrothgar, Beowulf cannot put aside his constant pride and wish for glory, which results in decisions that negatively impact his people. Through Beowulf, the author of the epic asserts that a good leader must always put their people above themselves, and that a good leader must be able to know when battle should be avoided, even if such a decision denies them personal glory. While Beowulf’s behavior followed the warrior culture of his time, the great kings mentioned in the epic break from their culture in ways that Beowulf does not. Thus, the author proves that a good leader must adapt to their circumstances, even if it means breaking from cultural norms to bring prosperity to their people.
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