Epic of Beowulf :: Epic of Beowulf Essays

As the welcoming celebration for Beowulf goes on, Unferth begins to ridicule Beowulf about his swimming competition with Breca. Unferth is jealous and feels threatened by Beowulf for he would not allow that any other man of middle-earth should ever achieve more glory under the heavens than himself. (Norton p. 33) Unferth is a very peculiar character. Although he has committed the horrific crime of killing his brother(s), he is privileged enough to sit at the feet of the king, a very respected position. His sin,an enormous violation of the comitatus, suggests that on that point is something wrong in Hrothgars kingdom and perhaps helps to foreshadow its destruction. Ultimately, it will be destroyed, as the text says, by a fire after sword-hate between son-in-law and father-in-law to wake after murderous rage. (Norton p. 28). Unferth tries to put Beowulf down by saying that Beowulf once risked his life for pride and foolish boast. He also points out that Breca has beaten Beowulf in the swimming and that he therefore expects him to lose the crusade with Grendel as well. Unferth is arrogant, obnoxious and the only one who challenges Beowulf. However, later when Beowulf fights with Grendels mother, Unferth lends him his sword. This can be seen as a shocking gesture, and a redemption of Unferth for the way he has behaved. However, it can also provide further proof of Unferths incompetence as a warrior. Because he is scared to fight himself, he passes on his sword to Beowulf. Beowulf answers Unferths words of envy with his side of the story. He says that Unferth is drunk and obviously knows nothing about the competition. Continuing, Beowulf explains that he won the contest patronage the heavy attack by sea-monsters. From this story, we see further proof of Beowulfs supernatural powers. The competition occurs during the winter in the freezing water, yet Beowulf is able to swim for fin nights armed with a heavy sword, in full armor and mail . When the battle is o ver, Beowulf finds himself on the shore lying next to nine sea monsters that he killed with his sword and modestly attributes his victory to both courage and fate. His comment that, Fate often saves an undoomed man when his courage is good (Norton p. 34) shows his belief that Fate will forever shape him and aid him as long as he is courageous.