Men's Loyalty In Beowulf

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In Beowulf’s time, men were required to be brave, loyal, and powerful. Men were expected to be tough warriors. Everyone would agree with me in saying today’s men could not be more different. The times have changed and men today have no need to be brave, loyal, or powerful, and you see very few actual tough manly men. Like Beowulf, men in those times were very strong and even had super-human strength. Obviously, no man today could have super-human strength, but many men today do not even have strength. The Danish coast guard even notices how tough Beowulf is. “Nor have I seen a mightier man-at-arms on this earth than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken, he is truly noble. This is no mere hanger-on in a hero’s armour.” (Beowulf 244-251) …show more content…
Loyalty today is hard to come by, whether it be to friends, a spouse, or a job. Beowulf was a prime example of a loyal man. He showed loyalty to Hrothgar by offering to kill Grendel and Grendel’s mother. It is loyalty and gratitude that brings Beowulf to the Danish court to lend a hand. Hrothgar welcomes Beowulf, saying, “Beowulf, you've come to us in friendship, and because of the reception your father found at court.” (Beowulf 321-336). In those days men were so loyal to their friend’s they would sacrifice someone’s life, and today we have people even in our armed forces betraying …show more content…
Men were so brave that is was nothing for them to fight, risking death. “And now the youth was to enter the line of battle with his lord, his first time to be tested as a fighter. His spirit did not break and the ancestral blade would keep its edge, as the dragon discovered as soon as they came together in the combat.” ( Beowulf 2625-2630) Today, men do not even need to be brave. With all the social media and texting we have today, it is so easy for people to hide behind their screens. It takes no bravery to “talk a big talk” when you know you will not face the repercussions of it. Today’s society allows us to be cowards and not to own up to our actions. Whether it be strength, loyalty, or bravery, there is a big difference between men back then, and men now. Our society has made it to where anyone can say what they want, yet still have no bravery to say it face-to-face. The world is changing though, and in three-hundred years the men will be different than they are today. Just like everything else, men change with the
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