Leadership In Beowulf

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What are the common ideals that a man must possess to be considered a masculine figure by the spectators around him? Even though each individual may differently categorize standards that an ideal male has to follow, there are several common attributes. Beowulf, from the epic Beowulf, demonstrates the same qualities that a man must have as detailed in Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If”; these qualities make Beowulf a real man. Beowulf holds leadership, shows courage, and expresses patience, three common ideals that Kipling thinks a man has. One is not simply a man because of his gender; it is these qualities that separate an ordinary man from a real man. Leadership, in the minds of many, is a crucial role that is needed to be categorized as a true…show more content…
Kipling believes that patience is not only important, but vital to a man; he states, “ If you can wait and not be tired by waiting” (Kipling 5). By saying that one must not be tired by waiting, Kipling conveys that it is important to be tolerant rather than worrying as time goes by. Similarly, Beowulf’s patience is tested through his journey to defeat Grendel. He was intimidated when Grendel “snatched at the first Geat/...ripped him apart, cut/His body to bits with powerful jaws,/Drank the blood from his veins and bolted/Him down, hands and feet;/...Snapping life shut” (Raffel 314-320). As Beowulf was trying to observe Grendel’s weaknesses, the villainous Grendel took one of Beowulf’s men and ate him alive. Here, while first handedly seeing a comrade die in the hands of the enemy, Beowulf was just lying down and observing. Instead of jumping up and trying to protect his companion, he had to let his soldier suffer for the greater good of the other citizens and soldiers. Also, by being patient, Beowulf was forced to become powerless at a time where someone’s life was being destroyed. Beowulf, a man who is used to being a leader, who terminated a whole race of Giants, was not held paralyzed by the patience that restricted him from committing any action. Similarly, when a beast torments Geatland, Beowulf’s patience comes into play in defeating the dragon: the “Geats’ / Great prince stood firm, unmoving, prepared / Behind his high shield, waiting in his shining / Armor” (677-880). Even though Beowulf is not used to hiding behind his shield and is usually ready to attack at any moment, he must be patient and wait for the monster to approach him. Also, by stating that he hid in his shining armor, the poet shows that Beowulf was trapped and held back by his armor, and therefore was unable to strike early. Also, by stating that the armor was shiny, shows that he has not had a chance to get it dirty

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