s upon me- cleaned out a nest of them? Had I notcrushed on the wave sea serpents by night in narrow struggle, broken beasts?(Beowulf 64). A man all-powerful among men, and yet he changes from themercenary, to the king, against his wishes but what the town people most desiredfrom him. This transformation from a man who helped people, for his own pleasureand honor, to a man who becomes helper of the people, not to the people. Last wehave the change of a man who risks death by fighting, and running afterGuinevere and her capture's on foot, and then sacrifices his own beliefs to benext to his love. He starts out as a man possessed to save Guinevere. To a manwho is controlled, willfully, by Guinevere. Take the example of the fightbetween Meleagant and the stopping of the first fight: ..The last words she uttered, 'To show you my gratitude, I will Lancelot tohalt,' had scarcely left he lips when he would not lay a hand on hisopponent or make a move, even if Meleagant were to kill him (de Troyes162). He would not defend himself for the sake of breaking this devotion to hislove! A previous line in the text points out why Lancelot would do such anaction during a battle, A lover is obedient; when he is completely in love, heperforms his beloved's pleasure eagerly and promptly. Thus Lancelot, who lovedmore than Pyramus- if love more than any man could- was compelled to comply (deTroyes 162). Such a power dominates his every thinking moment, even during thefight for his life and the life of those captured. This development of thewarrior is one, close to the transformation of the King Beowulf to his people,but more complex. Whereas our hero Beowulf still sacrifices himself for his ownhonor and to help his people. The actions of Lancelot start as a man ofindividual status to one who is immersed in his devotion to the one he loves. We are to understand that these attributes and actions our warriors have,are those which each society ...
