Women in Beowulf

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.