FATE
(Explain the line, “Fate will unwind as it must.';)in Beowulf
The line, “Fate will unwind as it must,'; (284) not only shows that the people believed they had no control of their destiny, but it is also relevant that Paganism was a significant part of their every day life. There are many illustrations throughout the poem Beowulf, that portray the importance of fate to the people. Often, the word fate was used as a way of showing the outcome of what has already come about.
Fate was a way of saying that the people’s destiny was already chosen, that they had no control, but everything would turn out as it should. For example, “But fate, that night, intended Grendel to gnaw the broken bones of his last human supper,'; (309-310). This is a way of foreshadowing the fate, or destiny, or Grendel’s life. During the Last Battle, Beowulf replies “I mean to stand, not run from his shooting flames, stand till fate decides which of us wins,'; (637-639). He acted as though everything that he has gone through so far in his life, was in the hands of fate, and would continue to be until his time was over. Whatever came out of this battle, was meant to be and there was nothing that was going to change it.
Fate is related to the Pagan religion. Paganism was the religion that was most often used during the time of Beowulf. It is referred to every time fate is mentioned, because they didn’t believe in one God and thought that fate had control over them.
Fate was also used as saying the outcome of something that had already come about. For example, on line 46, Hrothgar mourns over the fate of his companions, “Hrothgar, their lord, sat joyless in Herot, a mighty prince mourning the fate of his lost friends and companions.'; Here it is used as a way of saying their lives had already ended.
Beowulf is steeped in a pagan tradition, but not one that depicts nature as hostile. The setting in the beginning is portrayed as, “…these beautiful plains marked off by oceans, then proudly setting the sun and moon to glow across the land and light it…”(8). This doesn’t sound like anything hostile to me; on the contrary, what is being described creates an image of delectation. “The corners of the earth were made lovely with trees…”(11) is said. When reading these words, the last thing on my mind would be hostile. Forces of death and blind fate picking random victims may have some truth to them, but fate is something that’s very disputed. “…Snatched up thirty men, smashed them unknowing in their beds…”(37) This may seem like fate had decided who was going to die, but it probably wasn’t so. Grendel, “…slipped through the door…”(36) and snatched himself whomever he could get his hands onto. He most likely came in and killed the first thirty that were sleeping closest to him. He undoubtedly didn’t creep over all those men in risk of waking them up and start slaughtering on that side. What if, while he was massacring the group, they would have woken up? The he would have been trapped in the mead hall and would have surely found his death. I imagine Grendel being smarter that that. It wasn’t fate that decided who would die that night, but simply those who had slept near the door. Making smart decisions and thinking things over can control your fate, if such a thing exists.
In the two epics, Antigone and Beowulf, fate plays a major part in determining the events that happen to the two main roles of these stories, Antigone and Beowulf respectfully. They both go along with their actions, knowing that it is fate that has determined they must act in this manner, and that fate itself will determine whether they will succeed or fail. In both cases, even when they feel death will find them if they proceed on their current actions, they continue to move forward towards what they believe is their fated end. Overall these stories follow the fate of both Beowulf and Antigone, and their journey to the end.
Fate is defined as “the determining cause by which things in general are believed to…happen as they do,” “It is “an inevitable…outcome.” (Merriam-Webster) However, fate isn’t the determining cause, it is dependent on karmas. Karmas are derivatives of the invisible Karman particles that are all around the world. (umich.edu) Through ones’ thoughts and actions karmas bond to the soul. (umich.edu) Over time the karmas accumulate and begin to cloud the once pure and truly knowledge soul. Ancient Greek tragedian Sophocles uses the idea of fate as the basis for his tragedy “Oedipus the King.” The character Oedipus ultimately turns out to be an exemplification the notions of Karma and fate.
In Beowulf, there is a continuos reference to fate, and the protagonist attributes his success to God’s will. After Beowulf defeats Hrothgar’s nemesis, Grendel, Hrothgar gave thanks to “…the Almighty Father…” (927). Similarly, when Beowulf vanquished Grendel’s mother, “his thanes advanced in a troop to meet him, / thanking God and taking great delight / in seeing their prince back safe and sound” (1626-1628). Likewise, Beowulf’s last words after overcoming the Fire Dragon were “fate swept us away, / sent my whole brave high-born clan / to their final doom. Now I must follow them” (2813-2815). The Anglo-Saxon society do not question God’s will (fate) because they believe that what happens in life happens for a reason, so the concept of death comes easily to them. At the final battle with the Fire Dragon as Beowulf lies dying, he accepts the end of his life. When he speaks his final words, he does not regret coming to fight the Dragon. The symbolic moment when Beowulf’s sword and shield fails him demonstrates that “…fate spares the man it has not already marked” (573). Wiglaf, Beowulf’s final fighting companion, knew “…there was no way / he could preserve his lord’s life on earth / or alter in the least the Almighty’s will. / [because] what God judged right would rule what happened / to every man, as it does to this day” (2855-2859). Wiglaf accepts that Beowulf dies because of God’s will. During his rebukes to
Fate is an old, debated concept. Do one's actions truly play a role in determining one's life? Is fate free to some or is it binding to others, in that no individual can make completely individual decisions, and therefore, no one is truly free. Nowadays, fate is a subject often rejected in society, as it is seen as too big, too idealistic, and too hard to wrap a person's head around. However, at the time of Antigone, the concept was a terrifying reality for most people.
Pagans do not believe in an afterlife. Pagans simply believe that there is nothing after living on Earth. The only way to live on after this life is to be something of a hero and have someone write poems of the hero. The people will tell stories about the hero and the hero will continue to live on in their memories. In lines 186-90, Beowulf explains after telling Hrothgar that he will be the one to kill Grendel, "...And if death does take me, send the hammered/Mail of my armor to Higlac, return/The inheritance I had from Hrethel, and he/From Wayland. Fate will unwind as it must!" This quote makes the reader think Beowulf is pagan. Fate is the paganistic belief that no matter what one does to prevent something from happening, it will happen anyway. Beowulf is also trying to become a hero which matches up with pagan beliefs. Why would killing Grendel make him a hero, one may ask? Grendel is a monster that has been killing the members of Herot Hall for years. Beowulf decides he nee...
Beowulf has a strong belief in fate. If he dies in battle he believes it’s because it is his destiny to do so. "Fate will unwind as it must!" He realizes the dangers but fears nothing for his own life. This is what makes Beowulf a true hero. Even after serving his people as King of the Geats for fifty years, he goes to battle in hopes, or fate, to destroy a dragon who is terrifying all of his people. At this point however, Beowu...
... grab more power in make her more dependent on him. Missy May thought by sleeping with Otis Slemmons that she could get more money for the house. Missy May seem to never have the thought of actually just learning how to make her own money to make them more wealthy but rather she views sleeping with Slemmons as the only option to please her husband.
The Anglo-Saxon understanding of fate is not all too different from our modern understanding and applies to both Christian and pagan beliefs. Fate is a force that controls a man’s life, regardless of his actions. Fate is usually seen as three women, sometimes blind, who weave the thread of a man’s life and cut it when it is his time to die. In Anglo-Saxon literature, fate, its power and the doom it can bring are often referred to. In “The Wanderer,” an elegy that laments the narrator’s dead lord, the narrator states that “All earth’s kingdom is wretched, the world beneath the skies is changed by the work of the fates.”
The effect fate has first appears in Macbeth when Lady Macbeth receives the witches’ letter telling of a prophecy. This prophecy reveals that Macbeth will seize the crown, and
...that fate. Events that lead to other events will eventually lead one to their fate. “Oedipus the King” is a great play that sets an example of what fate is. Oedipus chooses to flee from home, in attempt to avoid the god’s statement of his fate from coming true. However, Oedipus’s decision for fleeing is what was necessary to make his fate come true. Undoubtedly, this is what was meant to happen because Oedipus allowed it to. Perhaps if Oedipus ignored the god and never did a thing then perhaps the outcome could have been different for Oedipus. However it did not turn out that way and the choices that Oedipus made is what led him to his doom.
In Greek mythology as a whole, fate does have a sizeable role in most tales. However, the definition of fate for the ancient Greeks extends from the common definition. The definition of fate that is familiar to us is anything that happens for an unknown reason and is out of our control. But in Greek mythology fate also involves divine intervention from the gods of Olympus. They are able to change outcomes and alter situations to the point where what occurs might not have happened without them. In The Odyssey, gods have a very prominent role. But you cannot just discuss fate by itself. Free will is also a factor. Free will is mankind’s ability to make decisions control the aspects of one’s life. In The Odyssey life is the individual’s responsibility.
Fate can be defined many different ways. Webster's Dictionary defines fate as a power that supposedly predetermines events. Fate is synonymous to the word destiny, which suggests that events are unavoidable and unchangeable. Whatever happens in life is meant to be and cannot be changed by mankind. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, fate plays an important role in the lives of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Banquo.
Fate has a place in the Greek world but its place is not the same as it is in other scenarios or worlds. It is important to understand the word before we discuss it. Fate as far as Greek mythology goes is not just fate. By most standards fate means that things occur for an unknown reason that no one has any control over. However, in the world of Greek Mythology fate does not just happen. The gods engineer fate and they interfere to make things happen that might not otherwise have happened. Since the players do not always know of the gods' involvement, things may actually appear to be fate but in reality be engineered happenings.
Webster defines fate as a “ a power thought to control all events and impossible to resist” “a persons destiny.” This would imply that fate has an over whelming power over the mind. This thing called fate is able to control a person and that person has no ability to change it.