The Values Of Beowulf's Personality, And His Legacy

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The definition of hubris is excessive pride or self-confidence. The definition of selfishness is lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one 's own personal profit or pleasure. These are the two best words to describe Beowulf’s personality, and his legacy. Beowulf is hubris because of the values of his culture, his actions, and his motivation from being the best (better than all). Beowulf is selfish because he does not possess the simple trait of humility. The Barbaric Anglo-Saxons did not value traits like humility, generosity, kindness, or selflessness; and Beowulf proves that. Instead of a legacy of thinking of himself as less, Beowulf completely thrived off of himself as the greatest and most worthy on many occasions. When he introduces himself to the Danes, “in his far-off home Beowulf, Higlac’s follower and the strongest of the Geats-greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world (109-111).” After Grendel is viciously beheaded states, “Or between the seas, neither south nor north, was there a warrior worthier to rule over men (542-543).” The story of Beowulf is centered in Beowulf’s …show more content…

It is essential that his tasks must be large, impossible, and make Beowulf better than the person next to him. Unferth recognizes this and proves that Beowulf simply doesn’t care about others, “Boastful fool who fought a swimming with Brecca, both of you daring and young and proud, exploring the deepest seas, risking your lives for no reason but the danger? All older and wiser heads warned you not to, but no one could check such pride (240-245).” There was absolutely no reason in Beowulf’s action as it did not benefit anybody, and all based off of his arrogance and berates towards those who told him to stop. Beowulf is selfish because he went against those who raised him to stand for kinship, and instead he proved nothing but a bombastic boast towards people Beowulf thinks less

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