Beowulf Vs. Sir Gawain: a Comparison of Two Heroes
Summary:
The protagonists of both the anonymous Beowulf and Thomas Malory's Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are true heroes. However, the traits they have in common are far less numerous than those that set them apart.
The protagonists of both the anonymous Beowulf and Thomas Malory's Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are true heroes. However, the traits they have in common are far less numerous than those that set them apart. As each of the two is dubbed perfect by their peers, it is possible to illustrate them as both model warriors and ideal knights.
The first question to arise is that of leadership. In Beowulf, the hero is referred to as "prince of the Geats" and "master-friend." This is not without reason: in the times of the epic, if you had the power, the spoils were yours. Therefore, those who wanted to be a skilled warrior had to demonstrate a leader's qualities as well as expertise in combat. As for the knights, they had their appointed ruler (King Arthur), and none thought of challenging him. Neither did any of the knights classify himself as a general; all of their feats were done single-handedly.
In the area of combat, Beowulf fought a great many battles during his life. While some of these are only briefly mentioned (he told of slaying sea monsters, for example), the significant fights are described entirely, with much detail. For instance, the clash between Grendel and the Geats: "Now many an earl of Beowulf brandished blade ancestral... The outlaw dire took mortal hurt" (XII, lines 4-5; 25-26) And it goes on to explain the rest of the battle. This is but one of the hero's encounters¾clearly he fought a great deal, and it made him a great warrior. The matter is quite different when it comes to a knight. While Sir Gawain's skill with a sword and spear is highly praised throughout the tale, his battles are only shortly mentioned. As a whole, his determination when confronted with the cruel winter is portrayed as much more important than his triumphs over monsters and villains. And while this is not a general rules for romances, it is an indication of the tendency that brute strength is less important than other qualities.
One of these admirable qualities is faith. Gawain was wholly devout, and his belief in the Lord was well worth it. For example, "No sooner had Sir Gawain signed himself thrice than he was ware, in the woods, of a wondrous dwelling." (lines 763-764) Such direct divine intervention was not uncommon in the world of knights. It can also be found in Beowulf, but it seems a bit out of place in the harsh reality of the Danes. It is true that in the epic, magic (such as the mysterious sword in Grendel's mother's lair, or the spell protecting Grendel and his family) seems to have much more importance than any religious occurrences. When the ideal knight was expected to dutifully fulfill the will of God, the warrior was presumed to utilize ancient spells or relics.
The idea of pride and humility is another contrast between the two heroes. Consider the way each of them described himself¾Gawain said of himself, "I am the weakest, well I know, and of wit feeblest; and the loss of my life would be least of any; that I have you [Arthur] for an uncle is my only praise; my body, but for your blood, is barren of worth." (lines 354-355) Whereas Beowulf presented himself in a superior light: "Fame a plenty have I gained in youth... for my nerve and my might, they [my people] knew full well. Themselves have seen me from slaughter come blood-flecked from foes, where five I bound, and that wild brood worsted." (VI, lines 39-40; 49-52) The boasting of his own feats seems to be a natural quality of a warrior, while knights were expected to excel at modesty and humility. It may be assumed that this is because of the importance of the Christian mindset in romances such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Another issue to contemplate is the heroes' entirely different approach toward women. To a knight, a lady was almost sacred; he owed her respect and admiration. When speaking to the lady of castle, Gawain demonstrated these qualities: "In all that I am able, my aim is to please, as in honor behooves me, and am evermore your servant heart and soul, so save me our Lord!" (lines 1546-1548) Beowulf, on the other hand, did not attach much importance to women. He saw their role as either a decorative one, or as supporting the feeling of greatness surrounding the hero. This was the case with the Helming's Lady: "Through the hall then went the Helmings' Lady, to younger and older everywhere carried the cup, till come the moment when the ring-graced queen, the royal-hearted, to Beowulf bore the beaker of mead. She greeted the Geats' lord, God she thanked, in wisdom's words, that her will was granted, that at last on a hero her hope could lean" (IX, lines 62-69) What's more, Beowulf's wife was never mentioned in the poem, which reflects the lack of concern most warriors showed when dealing with women.
There is, however, one common trait to the warrior and the knight: the two both had a certain set of rules they were expected to obey. And though these rules that compelled Beowulf to come to Hrothgar's rescue were not as organized as Gawain's chivalric code, the idea of being obligated to follow these rules appeared in both poems.
Obviously, the characters of Beowulf and Sir Gawain are exceptionally different. Their depiction of leadership, combat, faith, pride and humility, and their view of women set them apart immensely, but their similar code of conduct unites them. They represent the image of the ideal men of two different ages, and they also symbolize true heroes, even in the present day.
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