Heroic characteristics of Beowulf and Odysseus compared

Beowulf & Odysseus

Compare and contrast Beowulf and Odysseus as heroes

The Odyssey and Beowulf are two of the greatest epics in Western literature, the one from Greek antiquity and the other a medieval re-telling of a Germanic oral tradition. There are a great many similarities between the two stories, many of which have seen been noted by academics who take an interest in such things as the "requirements" of an epic. Both heroes undertake a great journey across water. Both heroes descend into the underworld. Both undergo trials and tribulations and must depend on the companionship of others. Both heroes are uniquely grand men in their times, able to do and survive things that no other could. There is a certain degree of boastfulness and self-certainty in both that can be seen either as endearing or rather conceited. Yet despite many of the obvious similarities between them, Beowulf and Odysseus are drastically different characters. Beowulf comes across as a noble and self-sacrificing knight-errant, willing to sacrifice himself for the good of others, being both brave and pious and oddly sexless. Odysseus, on the other hand, seems prone to adventuring for the sake of "gifts," women, and fame. Beowulf is literally seen as the hand of God stamping out evil, while Odysseus is just as likely to be struggling on in spite of the gods opposition as he is like to be on their divine side - Odysseus struggles against nature and his fellow man, while Beowulf struggles against demons. These differences are in part differences in character between the two men. Odysseus is the beloved grandson of "the most accomplished thief and perjurer in the whole world," (Book XIX) and is a trickster equally known for his guile as his strength of arms. Surely one would expect a little less nobility from him than from Beowulf, whose father "was a leader well-known among the people" (1) for his wisdom. At the same time, these differences are also very much owing to the cultures which chose to elevate such men as their heroes. Odysseus comes from a culture in which intelligence and practicality have guided the rational development of society, which Beowulf is being recreated in a society which honors the pseudo-Christian virtues of piety and nobility, and this difference is made obvious in their respective relationships to the goals of heroism, the role of wealth and women, the natural and supernatural world, and their final life goals.

Beowulf and Odysseus have quite different approaches to heroism and its purposes. Beowulf is driven to act as he does based on the guidance of his wise men and religious leaders, who urge him to go "help the king who needed help."(1) at its core, Beowulf's purpose is to bring "relief from this evil." (1) Though eventually he will be rewarded by the Queen for his good deeds and his promise of friendship to her sons and given by her "the largest neck ring I have heard tell of on the earth," (6) still he does not respond either with pride or with hubris, but remains a "gentle, joyful one... mild in spirit, and faithful to his king." (6)

Odysseus, on the other hand, does not approach adventures through some sort of over-weening altruism. When he battles monsters, it is because they stand between him and his goals (usually his way home). When he acts heroically, he generally does so in hope of gaining the monetary pleasure of kings. For example, Odysseus usually closely follows up his accounts of his own heroic adventures with a blatant request for tribute, as when -in the middle of accounting his trip to the Underworld, he says: "King Alcinous, if you were to bid me to stay here for a whole twelve months, and then speed me on my way, loaded with your noble gifts, I should obey you gladly..."

Book XI) This is quite different from Beowulf, who offers his loyalty and friendship without price.

Odysseus is so dedicated to his pursuit of gifts that he requests them of everyone he meets. The entire affair with the Cyclops, which proves so disastrous to them both, happens for no better reason than that Odysseus refuses to leave the monster's island without waiting to meet with him: "I wanted to see the owner himself, in the hope that he might give me a present.... And then [we] sat waiting till the Cyclops should come in. [I said] We are the people... who.. won infinite renown throughout the whole world, by sacking so great a city and killing so many people. We therefore humbly pray you to... make us such presents as visitors may reasonably expect. " (Book IX) Subsequently, rather than leave the island without gifts, Odysseus claims that his ship has run aground and he cannot leave - the Cyclops then begins eating his men, and finally Odysseus undertakes to maim it so he can escape with the coveted sheep. There certainly are cultural differences at play here. One might characterize them as a difference between a culture inspired by morality and a culture inspired by individualism. Odysseus may not have been typical, of course, in his greedy nature - but he is held up as an example. Thus one can assume that the culture was at least somewhat in favor of that sort of opportunism. The importance of money and retribution in the cultures may, perhaps, be seen by the role which "gifts" played in heroism.

Opportunism in terms of gold is not the only issue of lust which divides the two protagonists. Odysseus throughout remains driven by all his physical senses - desires for wealth, food, and women. The entire Odyssey can be seen as a flight from one woman to another, and Odysseus is frequently delayed on his trip by deciding to stay in the arms of a woman for a period of time. From Calypso to Circe, even to little Nausica, Odysseus makes his way by the love of women. In contrast, one never sees Beowulf with a woman. He doesn't take a lover after defeating Grendel, nor even in the end is their mention of his wife (if he has one) being of any important to him. Beowulf is almost neutered. This is an obvious cultural difference. Odysseus' heroic status is seen as being increased by the degree to which women through themselves at him. The ease of "conquest," as it were, is seen as demonstrative of the power of his manhood. Beowulf, on the other hand, was written in a time when sexuality is suspect. As a figure who fights for the forces of God, Beowulf -like a monk or a saint-- is celibate.

Though Odysseus is far more comfortable with his fleshly nature, Beowulf has a much better relationship with "nature" as such. Odysseus is in a constant state of struggle with the environment around him. The gods of nature - such as Poisedon the sea deity and Apollo the sun deity - both become angry with him and punish him though-out the book. He is frequently shipwrecked, or faces significant physical dangers from the ocean such as great whirlpools or storms. Odysseus spends much of his journey haphazardly struggling against gods and demigods and the elements.

Beowulf, on the other hand, has a charming relationship with nature. He regularly credits the fact that nature is good to him with the fact that God loves him. "They thanked God for an easy trip." (2) This could also be a cultural issue - Odysseus struggles with the elements because he struggles with the gods. Odysseus is a humanist, and he works for his own interest over that of the gods. Here he is closely associated with Greek culture, certainly - theirs is a rational society in which sciences are being developed and debated and philosophy takes root in the soul. Beowulf's story is being told by Christian tribes. He finds nature on his side because God is on his side - and he works within Gods will. He does not fight gods or nature, but rather only fights irrevocably evil demons. He is associated with a pious culture which is not humanistic, and in which science and other such forms of hubris are not encouraged. Beowulf is a truly medieval hero, just as Odysseus was Grecian.