Beowulf, The Pagan & Christian

After reading the first section of “Beowulf,” I found that despite the fact that it seems to be written in a Christian context, the line between ‘Christian’ and ‘Pagan’ becomes blurred. One could even argue that Christianity and Paganism seem to be working almost simultaneously within Beowulf’s character, and I think that the main charcter, in encompassing such contrasting notions and religions, may evolve into what we’ve defined as the ‘other.’

On page sixty-two, Beowulf becomes associated with an animal figure, the boar, which can be seen simultaneously as a Pagan and a Christian symbol. Closely connected to the forest, the boar has the keen ability to uproot truffles, a mysterious fungus that ancient legends claim was produced by lightening; hence, the boar becomes closely associated with the supernatural. Yet, the boar is also symbolic of magic, prophecy, as well as warfare, and protection for warriors. In Christianity, the boar is symbolic for ferocious anger, for brutality, cruelty, as well as the ‘sins of the flesh.’ Beowulf, in wearing the symbol of the boar can be seen within a Pagan and Christian context; curiously he seems to exhibit a mixture of the characteristics assigned to the boar by Paganism and Christianity when fighting Grendel.

Beowulf possesses a super-human or supernatural strength. On page sixty-six Beowulf chooses not to use weapons in his fight against Grendel and asserts: “But with my grip I shall grapple with the fiend and fight for life, foe against foe.” During the fight, Beowulf exhibits superhuman strength by literally ripping one of Grendel’s arms out of his socket, which King Hrothgar exhibits for all to see. One could argue that Beowulf’s supernatural strength speaks to a Pagan element, and we also see this kind of unearthly strength or power on page seventy when Beowulf tells Unferth he spent five nights in the sea competing with Breca, only to be dragged down by a ‘mighty sea beast.’ Here, Beowulf is literally battling a ‘monster’ underneath the ocean, and his superhuman strength can not only be found in the physicality of the fight, but in the fact that the scene alludes to his unnatural ability to hold his breath under water, and control it for five days in the sea. In addition to this, he is able to fight in the sea with not only one ‘sea beast,’ but ‘nine maneaters,’ and this reinforces his supernatural strength that can be associated with the Pagan elements found in the story. Despite this, within the text, Beowulf’s supernatural strength becomes closely associated with the strength of the God; he also takes on the persona of Christ.

Beowulf and Grendel becomes representative of the Christian idea of ‘good versus evil’; they appear to be polar opposite, and one can argue that Beowulf exists figuratively as God or Christ, and in contrast, Grendel is the devil or Satan. On page fifty-six, Grendel becomes associated with ‘Cain’s race’; he can be seen as the man ‘falling from grace and into sin’ who is associated with Satan, the devil, and becomes known as ‘God’s adversary.’ In addition to this, he is described as an ‘unholy creature,’ as an ‘alien spirit,’ and lives in an underworld similar to Satan’s hell. In contrast, Beowulf can be seen as a Christ like figure not only because he possesses a ‘generous spirit (Page 61), and exhibits fairness (page 66), but because he literally ‘saves’ the Danes. In order to survive Grendel’s attacks, the Danes need a savior, and Beowulf, can be seen as a Christ like figure by the way he exhibits his desire to end their suffering, and ‘save’ them from Grendel. Moreover, if Beowulf is seen as encompassing this Christian idea of ‘good,’ when he defeats Grendel, he is carrying out God’s work. In other words, one could view Beowulf’s superhuman strength as coming from or facilitated by God so that he can carry out ‘God’s anger.’ Despite this, I think the image of Beowulf as a ‘savior,’ and as someone who exemplifies Christian ideas, becomes problematic when he ‘kills’ Grendel; it also becomes problematic if we take into consideration the materialism he exhibits, wanting treasures and acknowledgement for his deeds.

It will be interesting to see how Beowulf further exhibits the tension between Paganism and Christianity because I think it is in this contradiction where he may evolve in to the ‘other.’ He is already somewhat alienated from the rest of the characters, for he is both spiritually and politically elevated in comparison, but perhaps in the next sections the Pagan elements within his character, may give way to Christianity; this will determine a position that’s neither ‘monstrous’ or ‘other.’ I also wonder if his ‘savior’ qualities will become solely motivated by his materialism, and need for recognition; this may further complicate his character while pushing Beowulf into a realm that encompasses both the ‘monstrous’ and the ‘other.’