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Women in Beowulf: Difference between revisions
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The women play the role of peace-keepers.For example, Wealhtheow, Hrothgar's queen. Beowulf lines 607, 620-628) Women in Beowulf represents a female perspective of honor, loyalty and social welfare. Wealhtheow is the picturesque queen. One sees this when she meets the nobles after Beowulf has defeated Grendel. Wealhtheow is a role model of courtly behaviors and duties. | The women play the role of peace-keepers.For example, Wealhtheow, Hrothgar's queen. Beowulf lines 607, 620-628) Women in Beowulf represents a female perspective of honor, loyalty and social welfare. Wealhtheow is the picturesque queen. One sees this when she meets the nobles after Beowulf has defeated Grendel. Wealhtheow is a role model of courtly behaviors and duties. | ||
Women also represent monsters. Grendal's mother and Thryth both committed terrible crimes, each involved the killing of men by using physical force. Thryth, the daughter of a king, went around killing liegemen who dared to lift their eyes to her face. Her actions were condemned because they lacked the ways of queens and the custom of lovely ladies. | |||
Grendel's mother is an evil, monstrous woman. She is a descendent of Cain thus an outcast from society and its rules. She is very greedy and powerful. The Danes feared her more than they feared Grendal, for she was a stronger and deadlier opponent. This made her very capable of avenging her son's death. | |||