Beowulf exemplifies the traits of the perfect hero. When he was young, Beowulf was a great warrior, characterized mainly of strength and courage, including his swimming match against Breca. He also perfectly embodies values dictated by the Germanic heroic code, including loyalty, courtesy, and pride. Traditional and much respected, this code is vital to warrior societies as a means of understanding their relationships to the world. All of the characters' moral judgments are based upon the code's values. Thus individual actions can be seen only as either obeying or violating the code.As a warrior Beowulf displays strength, courage, and loyalty. And as a king he displays hospitality, generosity, and political skill. His defeat of Grendel and Grendel's mother validates his reputation for bravery and establishes him fully as a hero. An important transitional moment for Beowulf was Hygelac's death. Instead of rushing for the throne himself, as Hrothulf did in Denmark, he supports Hygelac's son, the rightful heir. With this gesture of loyalty and respect for the throne, he proves himself worthy of kingshipIn the final episodethe encounter with the dragonthe poet reflects further on how the responsibilities of a king, who must act for the good of the people and not just for his own glory, differ from those of a heroic warrior. Although he is deservedly celebrated as a great hero and leader, his last fight is also somewhat rash. The poem suggests that, by sacrificing himself, Beowulf unnecessarily leaves his people without a king, exposing them to danger from other tribes and dangers. The conflict with the dragon has an aura of inevitability about it. Rather than a conscious choice, the battle can also be interpreted as a matter in which Beowulf has very little choice or free will at all. Additionally, it is hard to blame him for acting according to the virtues of his warrior culture.Throughout this poem of a courageous hero an...
