I stumbled across a blog mentioning a comic book series from IDW Publishing coming out on the Beowulf story right after the movie. I know we pondered what Beowulf looked like in class, but here’s a rendering of him for this comic book.
I would like to discuss the deaths of both Beowulf and Roland in this posting. We have argued both to have substantial reason for the label of the other. Both heroes go above and beyond other warriors with the desire to kill many or, in Beowulf’s case, kill evil creatures. Their last breaths on earth are somewhat similar in agency and effect and I think it would be important to point out in terms of otherness and in further understanding the Christian/pagan ambiguity we find in Beowulf.
When Beowulf begins to die (a death which is not nearly as long and drawn out as Roland’s) he quickly alerts us that he wished to pass on his armor to his son, if he had one (136). Beowulf informs Wiglaf and the readers of his lack of an heir and he blames fate for not granting it. Beowulf proceeds to weigh his actions in a pre-judgment before he leaves this world. He can’t seem to find anything wrong with his past deeds. He vocalizes that he “sought no intrigues, nor swore many false or wrongful oaths” (137). Beowulf begins to reflect on his life, and justify that he has been a good man. Beowulf also feels redeemed by the fact he never committed, “the murder of kinsmen” (137). It is interesting that Beowulf would bring this up in his last words. He is alluding to the past stories of Hildeburh and allusions with Unferth (his fratricide) and Grendel (associated with Cain).
Beowulf then wants to view the treasure one last time and gives thanks for the goods, since they will be given to his people. He feels he has fulfilled his duty or worth to the people, even though it is later noted that the treasure doesn’t help the Geats. Materialism has consistently been a motif in the story, however, it fails to aid Beowulf’s people in the end. It is poignant that Beowulf’s last words are “I must follow them” (139). For all of Beowulf’s life, he has been the leader and later, king. Beowulf is steadfast and in many instances in his life, self-proclaims that he must take charge or do battle alone. Being a leader is the only identity Beowulf knows in this world. Now, he is ready to be subservient to the next world, his “final destiny.”
With Song of Roland, there is a one-sided dialogue with a Higher Being as well, and Roland feels confident in his self-worth. Roland is mortally wounded, yet he kills many more Saracens in an effort to achieve his self-worth. This is paralleled to the treasure Beowulf has placed for his people. Roland also hides his sword under him so the Saracens will not take the holy Christian relic. Here again, there is a protection or armor and swords to have them passed down to his people, just as Beowulf speaks of his armor. When Roland has finally placed himself in the best position to die, he begins to beseech forgiveness from God, and reflects on his life. Roland’s last words are for forgiveness and salvation in heaven. “Save Thou my soul from danger and despite / Of all the sins I did in all my life” (142). This is interesting because for all of the story, Roland has been the one mercilessly killing Saracens. In Roland’s judgment, he acknowledges he has done wrong and asks for mercy from God.
When a great character ends his legacy, he culminates in noble actions and words. Beowulf and Roland are two interesting characters to line up with their ends to evaluate the Christian/Pagan ambiguity assigned to Beowulf. In Roland, he has a clear knowledge of God and what he needs to do in order to get to heaven, which he accomplishes. Beowulf is certain that he is following his kinsmen to the other world, but no clear place is labeled. God is named as Ruler of men in the last new lines. Instead of making peace with God, Beowulf requests for a monument to be built in honor of him, so that he will have his fame on earth. In Roland’s final breaths, he is focused on his immortality in next world, and Beowulf is focused on making his immortality in this world with “Beowulf’s Barrow.”
Nonetheless, there is humility in the last words uttered by each hero. For Roland, it is a cry for mercy for sins committed on earth, and for Beowulf, it’s acceptance of the dependency he will need in the afterlife.
1 comment:
Interesting dissection of the last moments of Roland and Beowulf. I really like the attention drawn to the import of Beowulf's last words, with their awareness of the necessity to "follow" (2816).
I would add that Roland at death's door also evinces a similar knowledge of being subservient to and commanded by an otherworldly power: "His right-hand glove he's tendered unto Christ, / And from his hand Gabriel accepts the sign" (laisse 176, pp. 142-143). This little ceremony transfers Roland's feudal allegiance from Charlemagne to God. Of course, Roland has been a marvellous feudal vassal all along, willing to sacrifice himself and 20,000 other French rather than summon help and so call attention to the fact that his liege lord has been tricked and betrayed. So his final act does not really accomplish anything radically out of character. He as always been othered by his exceptionality and hyperactive violence, and his spiritual elevation throughout, particularly in the (incredibly protracted, as Annie notes) scene of his death, others him further. Yet in another sense he remains right at the heart of the Frankish chivalric sense of identity by dint of his perfect embodiment of feudal allegiance. His death only perpetuates this in translation.
Beowulf's case parallels Roland's in his awareness of being a follower of greater, unearthly powers. Beowulf, however, is fatalistic where Roland is proactive. More importantly, where Roland in death stays very definitely Roland, Beowulf's last words, as Annie points out, cut against the grain of his established character. His statement also plays into the dynamics surrounding his conflicted identity in the final stage of the poem: king and hero, the leader of the community who is also set above and apart from it. Beowulf has led and then, in sending away his thanes before attacking the dragon, has chosen not to lead. Following his predecessors out of the world now marks his ultimate "othering," as he leaves his human identity completely behind.
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