The Anglo-Saxon notion of lineage clearly defines the roles of self and Other, particularly when considering Beowulf. The terms of otherness are established by means of association with the male line since a collective us is set in opposition to “them.” However, Beowulf is outside the realm of this male power structure. As much as he protects his kin or comitatus, Beowulf is rootless and unsettled, a quality that leads him to reject the earthy stability of a male line.
The establishment of male lineage acts as an imperitive introduction to Beowulf as well other male characters. Beowulf is not just Beowulf; he is Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, perhaps to provide an expectation of Beowulf’s strength and character. The fact that Beowulf is referred to time and time again as “son of Ecgtheow” reestablishes his association with a lineage and his inclusion in Geatish society as a whole.
Although Beowulf lives in a society driven by male lineage and succession, he does not fully participate in his role as a man and a king. He is an exceptional protector of the Geats and the Scyldings, but since he does not produce an heir, his protection is limited to his lifespan. His intentions in non-participation are unclear. Beowulf functions outside the sphere of normal male activity, making him an Other. Perhaps to compensate for not continuing the male line of which his is a part, he is hyperfunctional in the other duties of the masculine leader. He defeats numerous monsters and presumably keeps his home safe from invasion. However, despite his functionality in the his protective duties, Beowulf rejects his other duties as king, alienating himself from his position in society.
While disassociation with lineage makes Beowulf an Other, Grendel’s association with his lineage characterizes him as monstrous. The poet traces Grendel’s lineage to Cain, linking Grendel to the heinous act of fratricide. The damning relationship to Cain ensures Grendel’s position as a monster before acting in a monstrous way. Beowulf’s ties to his father Ecgtheow place him within a dominant society, which he rejects by non-compliance to his male role. However, unlike Beowulf, Grendel acts in a way befitting his lineage.
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Examining Beowulf’s character and actions, he seems to simultaneously possess both Pagan and Christian qualities. Do you think that this contradiction he possesses compliments or better said, even instigates his non-compliance to a dominating male role? Perhaps, it is precisely this contradiction that keeps him from fulfilling the ‘male line?’ I wonder if the religious contradictions within his character makes him incapable of carrying on the male line if it elevates him into a realm where he is not only transformed into a ‘spiritual other,’ but a realm where fixed notions of lineage and ‘roles’ can be broken.
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