Beowulfs Manifestation of Hrothgars Lessons :: Epic Beowulf essays

Beowulfs Manifestation of Hrothgars Lessons We have non seen great things done in our time except by those who have been considered contemptible the symmetry have failed. --Machiavelli, The Prince In this statement --and in the rest of his major work, The Prince -- Machiavelli attempts to justify the cruelty of a drawing card it is requirement, he seems to say, to be feared in order to succeed. It is doubtful that the renaissance political theorist ever read the poem of Beowulf in any case, he did not rattling much with its message. For if its titular hero followed the maxims of Machiavelli, Hrothgar, the loss leader of the Danes in the poem, contends that it will channel upon presumption and, ultimately, Beowulfs downfall. Hrothgars message is exactly contrasting to that of Machiavellis. His political theory states that it is necessary to be good-willed to ones people and to refrain from being blinded by pride in order to be a successful leader. Fortunate ly for Beowulf, during his fifty-year sovereignty as the prescript of the Geats he follows Hrothgars sagacious lesson consequently, he is compassionate leader who never lets his pride overcome his judgment. Throughout his reign as the ruler of the Geats, Beowulf is a benevolent leader - bringing peace and power to his acres as Hrothgar instructs him to after the great warrior defeats Grendels mother. Hrothgar relates to him a story about the Heremod, office of the Danes, who brought little joy to the Danish people, only death and destruction (1711-1712), and that suffered in the end for having plagued his people (1720-1721). That is, Hrothgar claims that one cannot be a successful leader unless one is virtuous ruler. Furthermore, he tells Beowulf to learn from this and understand true cling to (1723-1724). Therefore, Hrothgars intends that this information be carried on with Beowulf. During his final moments, after he kills the cherish hording dragon, Beowulf refle cts on his reign over the Geats, and those reflections demonstrate that he understands the importance of honor and honor. He claims that he cared for and stood by things in his keeping, never fomented quarrels, never swore to a lie (2736-2739). His goodwill and righteousness is highly regarded by the warrior, for he continues, the formula of mankind need never blame me .