How Does Beowulf Show Loyalty

Loyalty is a trait that many people nowadays struggle to have and express. To be loyal is to stay faithful and stay committed . Loyalty is keeping your word and perceives a feeling of devotion towards something or someone. Throughout each literary work such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Beowulf, and Much Ado about Nothing, the thematic topic loyalty is shown throughout the stories through the character’s triumphant experiences on epic journeys.

First, loyalty is a big part of each literary work because it helps provide insight to who each character is and gives people a better understanding of what the work is about. In Beowulf loyalty guides Beowulf throughout the story. Beowulf shows loyalty to his men by protecting them to the best

Some of the most common ways is loyalty between friends and faithfulness between lovers. Throughout the play each character’s loyalty for one another is tested. Which brings about the question whether their loyalty lies in their friendship or to their loved ones. Beatrice demands that Benedick proves his loyalty to her rather than to Claudio, after she had asked him to kill Claudio and he refuses. In Beowulf, Beowulf’s loyalty to his men is tested when the last battle comes and Beowulf has aged putting him at a disadvantage of winning. “I’ve never known fear, as a youth I fought in endless battles. I am old, now, but I will fight again, seek fame still, if the dragon hiding in this tower dares to face me” (Beowulf lines 624-628). Beowulf once again proves his loyalty to his men and loved ones through his determination to slay the beast although he is at a disadvantage because of his age. In Sir Gawain and the Green knight loyalty is a virtue that they must possess to maintain a good reputation as a noble knight .Gawain must stay loyal to his lord and to his people by keeping his promises, and display bravery.”A man who’s true to his word, there’s nothing he needs to fear…” (unknown lines

Not only loyalty, but also kinship were two of the main influential traits on the Anglo-Saxon society. During this time the culture focused on having excellent warriors who lived by the code of chivalry. Warriors who were loyal to their king, culture, and their people would be considered an excellent warrior. Protection of their country was a major important concept in the Anglo-Saxon period. Which is shown in Beowulf when he battled the dragon although he was old because it was terrorizing his people and a threat to his country. “Then Beowulf rose, still brave, still strong, and with his shield at his side , and a mail shirt on his breast, strode calmly, confidently, toward the tower…” (Beowulf lines 650-652). Despite Beowulf’s age, he didn’t let that stop him from doing his duty as a king, which is to protect his