Examples Of Masculinity In Beowulf

Beowulf the Inartificial Man Over the course of history, the righteous identity of masculinity has been tainted by the stereotypical profile that is governed by machoism. These stereotypes eliminate any emotions, activities, and beliefs that exhibit weakness. These stereotypes cause men to seek unrelenting physical strength, a mind of iron, and isolation. However, these are only stereotypes, a man is something much more than attempting to live their life as a masquerade. A perfect example of a man following this mockery of masculinity is the title character hailing from the epic Beowulf. Beowulf is an overwhelmingly powerful individual who boasts of his valor, honor, and strength. In the epic, Beowulf takes on tremendous challenges that

Being a man is not as effortless as fitting the stereotypes that society associates a true man with. Such stereotypes are being dominant, controlling, and valorous. Throughout the poem, Kipling makes it a focal point that a man does not dwell, boast, nor sulk. Kipling shatters this modern stereotype of men and re-illustrates what a real man is in his poem. For instance, Kipling states, “if you can keep your head when all about you / Are losing theirs and blaming it on you” (Kipling 1-2). Kipling claims that a true man will not lose his composure no matter the situation even if all around him begin to point their fingers, a real man will maintain his righteous identity despite others trying to tarnish it. Furthermore, Kipling illustrates that a man does not dwell on his failures. For example, Kipling claims that men will “lose, and start again at your beginnings / And never breathe a word about your loss” (Kipling 19-20). Kipling believes that a man will not allow a loss to interfere with the future and will tread on without sulking. In other words, a man will maintain his face and obligations no matter what’s lost. Lastly, Kipling heavily implies that a true man does not boast of his success, by way of example, Kipling states that men “don't look too good, nor talk too wise” (Kipling 8). In modern society a vast majority of men if not all men love to boast of their wealth, intelligence,

In comparison with Kipling’s vision of masculinity Beowulf’s so called manhood falls short as he goes against all of the traits associated with Kipling’s vision of masculinity. For instance, in the aforementioned quote Kipling states that men should not boast of their success: yet Beowulf constantly screams of his honor, strength, success and much more. By way of example, as Beowulf and his lackeys are marching through the town the narrator describes their attire by stating “ glittering at the top of/ their golden helmets wild boar heads gleamed/ shining decorations”(Beowulf. Raffel 214-216). In this scene, Beowulf dresses far too flashy drawing a ton of attention to himself, his appearance boasts of his success and screams of his valor. As opposed to, Kipling who believes that a man should maintain his righteous identity through modesty. By the same token, Beowulf also states that he has “never known fear” (Beowulf. Raffel 624). This statement is a parallel to what Kipling believes as he claims that men should not talk too wise; yet here Beowulf is speaking straight out of his vainglorious personality demonstrating the exact opposite of modesty. Comparing to Connor Beaton’s profile of masculinity Beowulf also fails to match the traits associated with being a real man. Beaton