Beowulf And Grendel: Craving For The Queen
In both texts, Beowulf and Grendel, the main purpose of the Queen's are
to serve the courts as "weavers of peace". In Grendel however, Queen
Wealththeow is described in much greater detail and serves a further purpose.
The reader gains insight to a part Grendel that is not present in Beowulf, his
desire for a human.
It was not unusual for women to be offered as tokens of peace within the
noble courts. In the novel Grendel, Wealhtheow's brother, King of the Helmings,
bestowed her to King Hrothgar to promote peace amongst the Helmings and
Scyldings. "She had given, her life for those she loved. So would any
simpering, eyelash batting female in her court, given the proper setup, ...
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this tradition, and it is evident to the
reader that this is not an unusual Anglo-Saxon custom.
Queen Wealhtheow and Queen Hygd served as excellent role models for the
courts in which they served. They exemplified the mannerisms and etiquette of
the noble people. Queen Wealhtheow showed excellent poise from the very
beginning of both texts. She was admirable as she passed the mead bowl around
Heorot. The offering of the bowl was symbolic, being that the bowl was first
given to Hrothgar and then passed to Beowulf, as if she presented him with her
trust. Beowulf gave Wealhtheow his guarantee that he would be successful or die
in battle. After she presented Hrothgar and Beowulf with the mead bowl she
served the Scyldings, and did so as if they were her own people. She was not a
Scylding, nor did she desire to be one, but she never made her unhappiness known,
as described in Grendel. There is not great detail on Queen Hygd in Grendel,
but from what the reader can gather from ...
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was when she would lie in bed at night with
Hrothgar with her eyes full of tears. Sometimes she would leave the kingdom to
dwell in her sorrows but she would be immediately surrounded by guards, and
escorted inside. Wealhtheow was homesick, she missed her land, and her brother.
When her brother visited Heorot she paid no attention to Hrothgar, and Hrothgar
fulfilled passing around the mead bowl. In Grendel, it told of Hrothgar's love
for wealhtheow. He would often stare at her in admiration. Despite her
resentment she treated Hrothgar with much respect, she always looked up at him
and referred to him as "my lord".
Although Wealhtheow has much resentment towards serving the Danes, ...
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Beowulf And Grendel: Craving For The Queen. (2006, July 6). Retrieved December 23, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Beowulf-And-Grendel-Craving-For-Queen/48711
"Beowulf And Grendel: Craving For The Queen." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 6 Jul. 2006. Web. 23 Dec. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Beowulf-And-Grendel-Craving-For-Queen/48711>
"Beowulf And Grendel: Craving For The Queen." Essayworld.com. July 6, 2006. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Beowulf-And-Grendel-Craving-For-Queen/48711.
"Beowulf And Grendel: Craving For The Queen." Essayworld.com. July 6, 2006. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Beowulf-And-Grendel-Craving-For-Queen/48711.
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