Utilitarianism In The Idea Of Beowulf's Heroism

Beowulf demonstrates his hero trait within his actions he takes making a connection to the idea of Bentham. The main focus of Bentham’s utilitarian idea is, before making a decision being able to calculate pleasure and pain for others not just yourself. Similarly Beowulf focuses on the greater pleasure when he goes to battle against Grendel and Grendel’s mother. The hero trait that Beowulf shares with Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarian idea; is the thought of the happiness of others before making any decision or taking any action. The principle of Bentham is based on the happiness of others, which brings a connection to Beowulf’s succeeding action demonstrating Beowulf’s heroism. Bentham’s idea of making an action or taking a decision focus on

Beowulf knows that he has the strength to stop this monstrous creature from killing more people, so he does what is best for others and battles the dragon. Beowulf told his people that he should risk his life once again for them, “I risked my life often when I was young. Now I am old, but as king of the people I shall pursue this fight… Men-at-arms, remains here on the barrow, safe in your armor… This fight is not yours, nor it is up to any man except me…” (2511-2534). Beowulf knows that he had the ability to defeat the dragon but was not sure if he would end up alive or not. Even though he was not sure of his life he still did not back down from confronting the dragon because he knows that is was for the best of others. Beowulf calculated the happiness and the pain of others in order to make his decision; he knows that by killing the dragon he will reduce the amount of pain of others. Reason why this action makes Beowulf a hero is because Beowulf sacrifices his life to reduce the amount of pain the dragon was causing to others; Beowulf follows Bentham’s utilitarian idea by calculating his decisions between happiness and

According to Winston, Bentham believed that the pleasure of other not only should be considered in every human decision but also in political decisions. Winston stated about Bentham that, “He thought that every political decision should be made on the same calculation, that is, to maximize the net product of pleasure over pain.” (Winston). Political decisions should be calculated, making sure the outcome is more pleasure than pain for others. Bentham’s political idea connects to Beowulf acceptance to be king for the Geats. Hygd’s husband who was the king of the Geats passed away; according to the Anglo-Saxon tradition the son should be king. Hygd realizes that her son is too young and does not have the experience to be able to be a king, so she offers the throne to Beowulf. Beowulf accepts Hygd’s offer of him being the king for the Geats because he knows that is the best decision for the Geats which will bring them pleasure and reduce pain of suffering. Beowulf decision to accepting to be king brought the best to the Geats because he ruled them as good as any wise king would do. In Beowulf it states that “He ruled it well for fifty winters, grew old and wise as warden of the land...” (2208-22009). Beowulf took the throne and made sure he did not let the Geats down; instead he became a good king to them. Beowulf ruled the Geats well not for the benefit of him instead he ruled it