Beowulf

I've always particularly loved my English classes--but I have always wonder why I never read Beowulf in high school. And quite honestly, I have never been interested in literature where the hero goes on this great quest that lasts forever and ever. So, you can assume that I did not take the initiative to read it on my own. Fortunately, our instructed has mandated this read. I do not believe that I feel a powerful connection to Beowulf because he is very prideful and "masculine."

If I were to meet Beowulf in present-day America, I would say that he was the stereotypical 'jock.' (Please believe I was more along the lines of the nerdy-only-Asian-female in my classes.) I wouldn't exactly think that he had no brains--just that his strength overshadowed his intelligence. I hate to admit it, but Beowulf does have some good characteristics that we more or less value. Honesty. Courage. Loyalty. Strength. I just feel that Beowulf's honesty, courage, loyalty, and strength is overly exaggerated. Of course, anyone who has read the story would agree. But then, I guess that that is what made the story famous. It's emphasis on these good qualities were perhaps used like a guideline among the men of that time. Be honest.Be courageous. Be loyal. Be strong. Living during that time period, it was survival of the fittest--the weak and evil fell; the strong and good prospered.

And wouldn't it be wonderful if that concept of evil being diminished by the holy and the good was true everywhere? What kind of world we be living in? Wouldn't it be great if everyone did was what right and true? (Sigh, one can only imagine.) And I guess to this, I would get the response that without evil there would be no good. So what am I to comment on that note? Perhaps it is well and good that there are stories out there like Beowulf, to remind ourselves that we must stay true to our morals and beliefs.