Hrothgar The Old And Powerful King: A Closer Look At His Character

Want to read the rest of this paper? Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay and over 50,000 other term papers

for a complex work such as Beowulf.
Hrothgar's associations with women are not the only evidence that would support a "feminization" of his aged character. Hrothgar's laments for his own helpless state makes him even more helpless: rather than responding in action like Beowulf does, he gives in to despair. And if Tacitus were to be a guide, Hrothgar's grief over the loss of Aeschere would also be taken as a sign of excessive "feminine" behavior (Clark107-08).
Hrothgar certainly would not be called an independent thinker; he does not think on his own, a quality that is in direct contrast to the self-scrutiny and evaluation Beowulf is capable of when the dragon begins his ravages. After Aeschere's death, Hrothgar needs Beowulf's assurances of revenge before he can be cheered into recovering his manhood (a behavior Irving calls part of Hrothgar's "manic-depressive cycle” (Irving53).
Hrothgar's power is primarily managed through gift-giving and other domestic arrangements. Even though ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays. Write better papers. Get better grades. Already a member? Login

CITE THIS PAGE: