Beowulf the Archetypical Hero Essay Example for Free

Beowulf the Archetypical Hero Essay An archetype as defined by Carl Jung is a universal and innate pattern of behaviors that fit a person or character and define their characteristics and actions. The hero is a popular figure in many stories and is a well-defined archetype. For example the classic or mythical hero like King Arthur, is one who has a mysterious birth of royal lineage, is spirited away as a child, guided on a journey to discover his past, prove his courage, win the princess and become king. Later this archetype loses favor, kingdom and his life but his accomplishments form the foundations for the future. Another is the tragic hero who struggles against a fate predetermined by the gods and ultimately dies frustrated and unfulfilled. Beowulf represents yet another hero archetype, the Germanic hero. The Germanic hero archetype is defined by his great strength and intelligence and similar to the mythic hero, is a great warrior willing to face overwhelming odds and to fight to the death for the honor and safety of his people. Unlike the Mythic hero the struggles are less motivated by individualism and rather driven by a great sense of honor never to be destroyed by selfish activities. Finally the archetypical Germanic hero must also exercise humility and restraint. Like all other hero’s this archetype also dies and with death comes destruction. The story of Beowulf’s life demonstrates the building of his character into the archetypical Germanic hero. The story begins with Beowulf on an epic quest where he will define himself as a powerful and courageous warrior and also one of great honor. When Beowulf arrives at Heorot he meets Hrothgar the ruler of the kingdom and immediately states that he has come to defeat Grendel who has been terrorizing the land for twelve years. Consistent with the archetype of the Germanic hero we are introduced to the knowledge of Beowulf’s great strength. As Hrothgar proclaims Beowulfs merits, he states that he has heard of his awesome strength and declares â€Å"a thane with the strength of thirty in the grip of each hand. † (380-381) The reader is then given the knowledge that the quest is not simply designed to prove Beowulfs great strength and courage but rather to define him as an honorable man not motivated by the selfish desire, but rather a greater desire to act honorably. This is demonstrated by Hrothgar recounting his memory of him as a young boy with his father. The story then departs and tells of how Beowulfs father had killed Heatholaf a member of the Wulfing tribe. Hrothgar had ended what could have been a bloody feud by giving treasure to the Wulfings with the result that Beowulfs father swore allegiance to Hrothgar. Through this lens we understand the Beowulf is not simply here to slay a monster but that there is even deeper meaning to this quest, he his here for the honor of his family, to repay a debt and to honor the allegiance sworn to Hrothgar by his father. Beowulf’s arrival in Heorot also demonstrates Beowulf’s intelligence and self-confidence when his courage and honor are questioned by Unferth who accuses him of losing a swimming race with Breca. Beowulf defends himself by recanting his own side of the story boasting that he was drug down into the sea by a sea monster which he killed and then killed eight others. Even though this is a boast, Beowulf is able to convey the idea that the competition between he and Breca is not one based on personal vanity but rather a respectful match between friends. Beowulf ultimately puts Unferth in his place and defends his honor by telling him that he (Unferth) was a killer of his brothers, and could not have battled the sea monsters because he could not even defeat a single monster such as Grendel. â€Å"You killed your own kith and kin, so for all your cleverness and quick tongue, you will suffer damnation in the depths of hell. The fact is, Unferth, if you were truly as keen or courageous as you claim to be Grendel would never have got away with such unchecked atrocity, attacks on your king, havoc in Heorot and horrors everywhere. † (587-594) This shifting of the focus from being accused of defeat to the public reclaiming of his heroic status while stopping Unferth without further argument defines Beowulfs intelligence and secures his status and heroic reputation with the Danes. The ensuing battle between Beowulf and Grendel further defines this heroic archetype by defining Beowulfs prowess as a warrior and his immense strength. As the battle commences the reader is shown a mighty and powerful monster that not even Beowulfs men could defeat. Beowulf meets the enemy on equal terms, unclad with armor and with no weapon but brute force. Beowulf quickly dismembers Grendel and the monster runs from the Mead Hall to its death. This demonstration of Beowulfs super human strength, agility and warrior powers defines this hero as a godlike figure that is immensely powerful. In the morning when the Danes return and begin to celebrate, Beowulf shows the humility and restraint that is characteristic of this archetype by stating that â€Å"Nevertheless,/ if you could have seen the monster himself/ where he lay beaten, I would have been better pleased. He does not boast of his accomplishments nor does he exercise selfish desire for treasure or power. Even though this battle has defined Beowulf as a mighty and godlike warrior he never attempts to act in anyway to usurp the authority, leadership or power of Hrothgar even though he was not strong enough to defeat Grendel and could easily have tried to take the throne. Although Beowulf has defeated the adversary that he came to kill, Grendels mother is still terrorizing the kingdom, in seek of revenge for her sons death. After Grendels mother returns to the hall and retrieves his arm and claw, Beowulf is offered more treasure and fame to kill Grendels mother. Beowulf could leave and return to Getland having satisfied the debt owed to his father but instead demonstrates devotion to Hrothgar and agrees to battle Grendels mother. The unfaltering courage of the hero is demonstrated by his facing of evil in the â€Å"dismal wood† (1414) and ultimately his plunge into the bottomless lake to battle Grendels mother. After an epic battle Beowulf returns to Heorot with Grendels head. To complete the picture of the hero and end the story of the early life of Beowulf, Hrothgar praises Beowulf after his victory but cautions him on the evils of pride by using the example of a king named Heremod who was not generous and allowed arrogance to destroy him. Taking this to heart Beowulf symbolically casts off arrogance the following day by returning the hilt of a sword given him by Unferth who had initially challenged Beowulf upon his arrival to Heorot. The middle part of Beowulfs life deepens the sense of Beowulf as the Germanic hero. He remains loyal while keeping his ambition in check and continuing to be virtuous in all of his activities. Hygelac is shortly after killed in battle and Beowulf is given the opportunity to take the throne from Heardred as he was viewed as weak â€Å"Both owned land by birth in that country, ancestral grounds; but the greater right and sway were inherited by the higher born. †(2197-2199). But Beowulf declines opting instead to faithfully follow and support Heardred. At some point Heardred is killed and Beowulf assumes the throne legitimately and with honor. He then rules for fifty years during which Beowulf bore himself with valor; he was formidable in battle yet behaved with honour and took no advantage(2177-2179). â€Å"He ruled it well for fifty winters, grew old and wise as warden of the land† (2108-2110). Beowulf has taken to heart the earlier words of Hrothgar and not allowed pride to destroy him thus he has assumed nearly all living aspects of the Germanic hero archetype. The last phase of Beowulfs life completes the final aspects of the Germanic hero. Near the end of Beowulf’s life a dragon is awakened and is terrorizing his kingdom. After the deaths of many of his men he is confronted with a decision as to whether or not he should send a brigade of men to try to stop the dragon or face it himself. Although old and growing weak, in an act of selfless courage to save his kingdom and prove his honor once again, he decides to face the dragon. With the help of his loyal thane Wiglaf, the dragon is defeated but Beowulf is mortally wounded and approaching the end of his life. The final characteristic of the Germanic hero, death and destruction, is symbolized by the destruction to Beowulf’s land wrought by the dragon and the encroaching armies of surrounding nations. Without the hero all that has been gained is lost and destroyed by old enemies that will bring further destruction and loss to what the hero had created, â€Å"Now war is looming/ over our nation, soon it will be known/ to Franks and Frisians, far and wide, / that the king is gone. † (2911-2914). As Beowulf dies what he has created is destroyed and the picture of the Germanic hero is complete. According to Carl Jung the archetype resides in the unconscious mind as a pattern or image. The existence of such a form can only be made visible by finding the pattern in images, art religions or myths. The tale of Beowulf clearly illustrates the archetypal pattern of the Germanic hero. As the story develops the reader sees Beowulf fully develop the characteristics of the Germanic hero. Beowulf begins his life obscurely but matures to be the strongest and bravest of all great warriors, never willing to back down from a battle and always motivated by honor and the need to protect his people. He becomes a great and fair king who is respected by all and treats everyone fairly and with kindness. Ultimately Beowulf faces the final assault on his people and although he triumphs his life is forfeit. With his death comes the end of the hero’s journey and fulfills the Germanic hero archetype.

The Effect of Divorce on Children Essay examples -- Sociology Parentin

The Effect of Divorce on Children Works Cited Missing Divorce is always a traumatic experience in a person's life, especially a child's. When parents divorce, children are not always considered during the settlement. This omission can lead to problems with the child's perception of daily life. The impact divorce has on a family is more prominent to the children of the family than the parents. As a child, there are many situations that affect a view, memory, opinion, or attitude. Children have many of their own daily struggles to cope with, such as peer pressure. Adults sometimes forget what it is like to be a child dealing with some of the childhood pressures. Many parents do not realize how something like divorce could possibly affect their children as much as it does themselves. As the case may be, children are strongly affected by divorce. Some react differently than others, but all experience some kind of emotional change. Parents who are going through a divorce sometimes try to shield their children from the situation. But regardless of their parents good intentions, children often find themselves in an emotional catastrophe. Instead of protection from the situation, children need support and reassurance during this hard time. Parents feel like it is their job to protect their children from the same kinds of anguish and stress that they feel during the divorce. But ignoring this only leads to more unwanted stress. Parents should help their children better understand what changes will be taking place in the future, such as new places to live, new ways of communicating with their parents, and new schedules of daily life. There are many factors that affect a child's reaction to divorce. Their rea... ...ince fathers usually make more money and have more economic resources, if they were to get remarried, children in the new family would be better off because getting remarried usually results in higher incomes. It may not be possible to make every marriage a happy one or to always avoid divorce. Some spouses even have no choice when their mates leave them. But it's time to change all of this and lead these children to better adult lives. These children are the future and without them functioning correctly, the generations to come may also be affected in great ways. With a little more encouragement from our society, many of the same parents who would literally run in front of a speeding car to save their child from death might consider working harder at creating a better marriage to help our future generations (Betsy Hart: Time to Change the 'Divorce Debate').

John Proctor †The Crucible Essay

   Supporting this claim further are several lines from Miller’s pre-introductory notes; â€Å"His [Putnam’s] vindictive nature was demonstrated long before witchcraft began. † Not only does this reinforce our trust within the character of John Proctor, it always creates a likeness within him in the mind of the audience. Miller strives to achieve this more-so through Proctor’s defense of his absent wife to Abigail who aims to smite her; â€Å"You’ll speak nothin’ of Elizabeth! † This is due to the fact loyalty is an undisputable likeable trait. The moment our emotions towards John Proctor are challenged lay upon his treating of his housemaid upon the warrant of his wife to be arrested. Proctor handles her violently, though it is somewhat partially excused due to its honest aim: to free his wife. Thus, the challenging of our sympathetic yet simultaneously self-righteous attitude to Proctor, only succeeds in strengthening it, through the apparent pardoning of his actions for their good intentions. It becomes apparent the good moral of John Proctor, within his decision to risk the definite pardon of his wife in order to aim to release his fellow innocent towns folk during the court scene of the play; â€Å"I – I think I cannot. † Ironically, this portrays Proctor as one of the only Puritan’s of the play, as he strives to surpass his own greed, in strive to clear his conscience and do what is best for the village. His true Puritan values are also apparent earlier in the play when he suggests his uttermost disgust at Reverend Parris’ indulgence of â€Å"golden candlesticks. † Likewise, Proctors morality influences his decision to inform the court of his lechery with Abigail Williams. For this reason, Proctor rises even further in our levels of admiration. â€Å"I have known her, sir I have known her. † This line signifies Proctors fulfillment of complete morality, as he confesses his sins in hope to release innocent victims. Proctor becomes somewhat heroic at this point, as lechery is a highly punishable crime at these times. The final bout in which Proctor reaches our highest admiration comes at the end of the play, when he decides he would rather face hanging, than lying in the face of God. This selfless deed is what separates Proctor from the rest of the townspeople. His morality proves unrivalled, after several hints at its strength earlier in the play, such as his earlier converses with his wife upon his affair with Abigail, in which he becomes irritable at his wives judgment, despite her making almost no mention of it. This hints that Proctor has simply not forgiven himself for this deed, and rather than face the fact would rather put its blame upon someone else. Despite this, his character becomes arguably a martyr towards the deformation and destruction of the witch trials, as they seemingly dissolve after his death proves example to many others. Perhaps Miller may be comparing himself to the admirable character of Proctor. Through their both almost unjustified prejudice, Proctor for his lack of faith in the Puritan system, and Miller for his satirical outlook on capitalism. For this reason, perhaps Miller is justifying his actions to not confide the American Federal government at a later date, throughout his comparison of it to something quite revolutionary (the desolation of persecution. )

Religion Hinduism, Islam, And Christianity - 1079 Words

Religion is known as having a deep relationship with a supreme being or thing. Also, to believe in them with the extent of worship and to follow their practices. A few of the main religions over time have been Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. These three religions consist of ideas and practices that may be very different, but are made up of the same general idea expressed in a new form. Although their main differences, each religion seeks one thing, and that s an afterlife. Most religions are made up of a god or many gods. Hinduism is considered a polytheistic religion, which means more than one god. Hindu beliefs, like mentioned in the Upanishads, believe in Brahman which is considered their â€Å"creator.† Brahman is considered to be their main god. Yet, they worship other myriad gods like the sun that represents many aspects of what Brahman is. On the other hand, Islam and Christianity are both monotheistic, meaning â€Å"one.† In Christianity, they have one God who is universal. He is Jesus of Nazareth and was a real human being. Also, Islam consisted of a real human â€Å"god† as well and his name was Muhammad ibn Abdallah, or â€Å"Allah† for short. The difference between these two religions is that in Christianity, Jesus was real and acted upon his own teachings, while Allah was just known for receiving the revelations from a specific god. Allah did not actually create his own prophecies or teachings, unlike Jesus did. For each of these religions, they all contain a certainShow MoreRelatedHinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, And Religion1531 Words   |  7 PagesHinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism these are the different types of religions that exist in our society. Religion is a prominent part of most people s lives in our contemporary world. Religion is a cultural system, in this system, there are different beliefs that are normally unique to the religion. In most religions, there is a belief in spiritual beings also known as God. Many people around the world practice their religion by following what is expected of them according to historyRead MoreThe Five Major Religions : Hinduism, Christianity, And Islam868 Words   |  4 Pagesall religions are true and that they are only different routes to God or the Real to find salvation. The religions have same similarities and some areas of conflict that Hick explain with his theory of Pluralism. Pluralism is when more than one re ligion is true. In the last section of the essay, Hick explain the move of Christians from being exclusive to inclusive. In this period of globalization and diversity, Pluralism is the way communities with different cultures, traditions, and religions manageRead MoreIslam, Hinduism, Buddhism And Christianity Comparison1025 Words   |  5 PagesPractices of Hinduism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity Comparison Hinduism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity developed centuries ago and have been practiced since then to today. Groups of people who practice these religions are bound to the conventional norms, beliefs, cultures and way of life of each. Each religion has a particular faith in a supreme being (Woodhead, Partridge Kawanami, 2016). Muslims believe in Allah, Christians believe in Jesus Christ, Hindus believe inRead MoreChristianity, Hinduism, And Islam1054 Words   |  5 PagesEvery religion has its own goal, and their own believes, however there are also many similarities in their believes. Although the followers of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam may see things differently, they basically hold the same values and codes. To Islam, the Prophet Mohammad’s teaching is a â€Å"complete and final revelation†. On the other hand, according to the bible, Christianity believes that Jesus Christ is the true lord and savior will grant you the access to heaven in the aft erlife. JudaismRead MoreComparison And Contrast Of World Religions1194 Words   |  5 Pagesand Contrast of World Religions The religions of the world, while differing greatly in their specifics, are surprisingly similar. The three most prevalent religions in the world are Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism, in that order. All believe in a higher power that presides over and created man. Islam originated in approximately 609 C.E., or Common Era, and Christianity originated around 33 C.E. which is supposedly when Jesus Christ was crucified. The main prophet of Islam, Muhammad, is supposedlyRead MoreSimilarities Between Christianity And Islam1409 Words   |  6 Pages Christianity and Islam were both spread in socially and economically similar and politically different. They both had an important people that role and spread of the religions. Christianity included the individuals of who believe in Jesus Christ. Christians are the flowers of the Christ who often believed is the son of the God (â€Å"the father†); Christians strongly believe that Christ will return after the next life; the end of the world. Islam consists of individuals who believe in Allah, the godRead MoreSimilarities Between Hinduism And Buddhism942 Words   |  4 PagesCCOT Essay Hinduism and Buddhism were both founded and popular in northern India by 600 CE. Although Hinduism and the Hindu caste system maintained a strong influence in South Asia throughout 600-1750 CE, the Hindu majority eventually gave way as Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, and syncretic faiths gradually moved in and across the Indian Ocean basin by 1750 CE. Even then, Hinduism did spread from northern India through southern India to Southeast Asia. The caste system was maintained from 600-1750Read MoreWorld Religion: Christianity the Most Widespread Religion in The World1473 Words   |  6 Pagesworld religions that have followers all around the world. The six world religions are Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Many of these religions are monotheistic, which is the belief of only one god or one higher power. There are also polytheistic believers, which is the belief in many or more than one god. These six world religions have a lot in common and they al so have their differences that make their certain religion or belief special to them. Christianity is theRead MoreThe Religions Of Islam, Hinduism, And Buddhism1241 Words   |  5 Pages Religion and politics are quite interwoven into society both in the developed world as well as in the developing world. This paper will discuss the major religions of Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism and how these faiths connect to politics of nations. Islam has always been a very mixed within state and society as a whole, with no true line between church and state. Islam began in the Arabia by the Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century, and is the second largest religion in the worldRead MoreThe Tangling Of Religion And Politics1399 Words   |  6 PagesThe Tangling of Religion and Politics Religion and politics are quite mingled into society both in the developed countries as well as in developing countries. Religion and politics are two divisions of a single person. Religion speaks for a person’s moral values and beliefs and politics reaches out to one’s secular lifestyle. People involved in society may have deep rooted religious beliefs that control their behaviors and thought process and most times impact their political stance and ideology