Treasure In Beowulf Essay

In the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf, the stupendous hero’s many great deeds often appear to be for other’s benefit, yet Beowulf’s final conquest exposes his lust for glory and fame, thereby showing his lack of concern for anything else. This lust for immense glory and fame feeds his ego and causes his death and the imminent downfall of his great people the Geats.

For every battle, both glory and gold were the reward. Thus, the greed for gold is very similar to the lust for honor. The dragon that causes the death of Beowulf, sitting atop it’s hoard of gold, is symbol of the lust for gold that was central to this time period. Furthermore, greed was the cause of the majority of the conflicts in the text. It was Hrothgar’s excessive extravagance when building Heorot that first caused Grendel’s envy. It was a thief stealing a golden chalice from the dragon that led the dragon to razing Beowulf’s kingdom. In the same way that his quest for glory motivated him, so did his search for gold. In his last few minutes of life, Beowulf’s last request is to gaze upon gold and jewels. He says that his going “will be easier / for having seen the treasure” (2749-50). This makes sense when the gold is understood to be symbolic of the glory he has been chasing the entire poem. In the end though, it is useless. “They let the ground keep that ancestral treasure / gold, under gravel, gone to earth / as useless to men now as it ever was” (3166-69). For his people, the gold is a representation of his success, yet once the gold is beneath the earth, it is useless. Beowulf’s quest for glory was the very thing that killed him.

In Beowulf, the epic depicts an abundance of scenes of how wealth, in today’s modern culture, shows someone’s power. One way the benefit of wealth is shown in Beowulf by the kings in not solely the story but the Anglo-Saxon culture. This is shown by King Hrothgar when he talks about how he handled his enemies, saying, “Finally I healed the feud by paying / I shipped a treasure-trove to the Wulfings” (Heaney 470-471). Moreover, the amiable King Hrothgar pays his enemies with precious gold from his treasure hold and he ends up settling the feud. It is displaying how being wealthy can synthesize the jubilance a person can obtain by being so powerful that they can pay their enemies to stop attacking them. Another way that wealth can demonstrate the power in Beowulf is when the kings are being described. One excerpt that shows this is when King Hrothgar greets his companion, Beowulf, saying, “Then the grey-haired treasure-giver was glad” (607). The author specifically describes the highest powerful men in the land as treasure-givers. Comparatively, this not only showcases the Anglo-Saxon cultural beliefs, but is an even greater reflection on current the population. The wealthiest man in the world, currently, is Bill Gates with a net worth of 85.6 billion dollars (Kim). Not only is he extremely wealthy, but his influence in

When Beowulf fights the dragon, he doesn’t think of it as being a dragon. All Beowulf can think of is gaining a bigger ego to match his heroics. But, one must praise Beowulf for doing what Hrothgar could not; protect his kingdom. Beowulf tried to defeat the dragon to be able to have the dragons hoard. What Beowulf leaves when he dies is his identity, his monstrous identity of not following the heroic code. In all rights, Beowulf is an old king and he doesn’t need the dragon’s hoard, but because he is a selfish individual and prides himself on heroics, he goes and tries to defeat the dragon. This leaves the Geats kingless and now he has ultimately ruined his and everyone’s life that he worked to build up over his 50 years of being king. Instead of defeating the dragon he should have focused on other problems. He was a good king, but he was selfish ultimately, and selfishness was not part of the heroic code that he prided himself on. He defeated one monster only to become even more of one.

Beowulf’s courage is called once again, and this is the final battle. In this battle, Beowulf has to defeat a fire breathing dragon, symbolizing Satan. First of all, Beowulf is very old at this point. Once he heard about his home being destroyed, he left to fight the beast right away. “Then Beowulf was given bad news,/ a hard truth: his own home,/ the best of buildings, had been burnt to a cinder”(2324-2326). This shows how couragous Beowulf really is. Beowulf is a very old man at this point and his courage is too big and he has to defeat this monster for himself for destroying his home. Secondly, Beowulf fights the dragon on his own. In the poem the dragon is to be symbolized as Satan and he is ready to fight. “The fabled warrior in his warshirt and helmet/ trusted his own strength entirely/and went under the crag” (2540-2545). Last of all, Beowulf is fighting the dragon and is nearly dead, Wiglaf had enough courage to come help. Beowulf and Wiglaf were able to defeat the dragon. “The noble son of Weohstan/ saw the king in danger at

The defeat of Grendal’s mother and the conquering of her land, gave Beowulf another challenge, the dragon. Beowulf mission ahead was to face the dragon. On page 64 it states: “By this there went inside a certain man[ who made his way near to the heathen hoard; his hand took a cup, large, a shining treasure. The dragon did not afterwards conceal it though in his sleep he was tricked by the craft of the thief. The people discovered the neighboring folk- that he was swollen with rage” (Beowulf 64). The quote showed a man who lived in the village stealing a golden cup with gold coins in it from the dragon. The dragon discovered the cup was stolen and terrorized and killed the people within the city. Beowulf aware he was an older man knew there was a possibility that he could die in battle. He was also aware he had to defend his city from the dragon. The dragon however, was able to get the upper hand, and burned down Beowulf’s house. Beowulf at this point did not hesitation to challenge the dragon. Beowulf entered into battle with the dragon, however, he embarked on some difficulties . His sword snapped; while in battle with the dragon, and fortunately, his friend Wiglaf came to his aid. Together they managed to kill the dragon, however, during the fight; the dragon wounded Beowulf.

Beowulf would be king, and reign for fifty long years over Geatland. A dragon would soon begin to menace King Beowulf’s kingdom. As an old man, Beowulf would have to suit up once again to slay the monster. Beowulf would not fight alone as Wiglaf and his men would join the king in battle. Beowulf and Wiglaf would slay the mighty dragon, a dagger to its fiery heart would end its life. Even though the mighty dragon had been slain, the same fate to came for old Beowulf. As he lies there, in the last minutes of his life he asks Wiglaf to bring the dragon’s riches to him. As Beowulf passed he asked Wiglaf to build him a tower. A tower to remember his greatness, his courage, and his fame. The task would be completed. A mighty tower would be built, filled with the dragon’s riches along with his other possessions.

Many readers of the poem Beowulf may find it difficult to distinguish the 'good' kings from the rest – indeed, almost every man who holds a throne in the epic is named at one point or another to be 'good'. By examining the ideals of the time period as identified by the 'heroic code', it becomes clearer that a truly 'good' king is one who generously distributes treasure and weaponry to deserving retainers to honour courage and strength displayed in battle and to encourage the defense of the kingdom (Intro). When Beowulf ascends the throne of the Geats, the heroic traits of courage and strength for which he was so highly praised as a warrior do not serve well in making him a good king. Indeed, by exhibiting the traits of a thane, that is, by

After fifty years of what seems to be peace, the dragon appears to reign terror on Beowulf’s kingdom that he has taken power of. A robber had taken the dragon’s treasure that it was peacefully protecting prior to its terror. By this time, Beowulf is around ninety years of age. He knows it will be a tough fight, and therefore brings warriors along with him. After he calls the fierce dragon out of its cave, all but one of the warriors flee the scene. It is only Beowulf and a man named Wiglaf “Watching Beowulf, he could see How his king was suffering, burning. Remembering Everything his lord and cousin had given him,Armor and gold and the great estates Wexstan’s family enjoyed, Wiglaf’s Mind was made up”(Beowulf 107). Together, they slay the dragon, but Beowulf dies at the end too, making Wiglaf the king. The dragon was protecting the treasure and the thief did not steal for his own desire, it was for his masters in which he was beaten by “But the thief had not come to steal; he stole, And roused the dragon, not from desire But need, He was someone’s slave, had

The value placed upon treasure is different for everyone; Some people cherish treasures greatly while others put little to no value on treasures. In the stories, Beowulf and the General Prologue of the Canterbury Tales, different characters place their values on different things; some will place value on weaponry and treasures while others place value on other things.

Furthermore, the primary duty of a hero is to provide his kinsmen with great treasure and weaponry. Beowulf fulfills this duty by stating "Behold this treasure … that I have been allowed to leave my people…" (Beowulf 91) to Wiglaf after defeating the dragon. The warriors in The Battle of Maldon describe their Lord and hero as a "treasure-giver," and also a "ring-giver." The warriors in both of these texts reflect on all that their lords or heroes provide for them. It is through this gratification for material wealth that kinsmen feel so indebted to fighting for their lord. Wiglaf illustrates this concept when he remembers "the bountiful gifts bestowed upon him" (Beowulf 88) and finds that "he could not hold back" (Beowulf 88) from his lord's side.

In Beowulf, the cultural traditions of the ancient Germanic tribes are expressed. Throughout the poem, treasures are a symbol of achievement, glory, and wealth in the Germanic culture. The possession of treasures such as gold earns one respect within the Germanic tribes. Moreover, the act of partitioning is celebrated and it earns you a title of a good king and warrior. While the doing the opposite condemns you and titles you a greedy king and warrior.

Later in his life, Beowulf is himself king of the Geats, and finds his realm terrorised by a dragon whose treasure had been stolen from his hoard in a burial mound. He attacks the dragon with the help of his thegns or servants, but they do not succeed. Beowulf decides to follow the dragon into its lair, at Earnanæs, but only his young Swedish relative Wiglaf dares join him. Beowulf finally slays the dragon, but is mortally

Throughout the epic poem, the possession of wealth and treasure represents a reputation of honor, status, and skill, but were also used to solidify bonds and ensure loyalty. Every king along the lineage of royalty had a duty to spread his riches, a responsibility indicated by the frequent use of “ring-givers” that would even provide, “far-fetched treasures… and precious gear” (36-37). Wealth, a vastly important role in Beowulf, enables the king to manifest his generosity upon society. This act was not only a practice, but also a representation of honor as it was a way to exhibit benevolence to others as well as rewarding their loyal followers. An example would be during the time Beowulf saves the hall of Hereot from the terror and destruction of Grendel. As a result of Beowulf’s heroic acts, Hrothgar showers treasure on him and his men in order to show his thankfulness and goodness. The poet asserts how this giving of gifts signifies the manifestation of Hrothgar’s honor as king.

An epic, is a lengthy narrative poem concerning about social and political organization, and events significant to a culture or nation. In Fred Robinson words, much of Beowulf is devoted to show the Germanic heroic code, in different aspects, which values strength, courage, bravery and loyalty in warriors; hospitality, generosity, responsibility and political skill in kings; ceremoniousness in women; and good reputation in the inhabitants.