DO YOU THINK BEOWULF WAS AN "HONEST" LEADER?

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SOME EXAMPLES FROM THE TEXT

Beowulf, as we already know, has many flaws. Despite all this, as a leader, he has many
virtues such as generosity and loyalty, among others. Loyalty is a very noticeable trait of
Beowulf as a leader and he has a loyal following as well. He shows loyalty to the people that
is reciprocated, this makes the people love him and be considered a great leader.

In Beowulf, all the characters that appear are loyal to each other. This epic poem teaches us,
among other things, to trust our leader and our country. We can see this loyalty in Beowulf's
men, as it doesn't matter where this leader went his men went with him. "All of Beowulf's
band had jumped from their bed's ancestral swords raised and ready, determined to protect
their prince if they could" (25).

Beowulf makes the ideal epic hero by valuing the welfare of his people more than his own.
Throughout his life, he faces many battles against monsters and very strong beings, but
finally, our hero wins the battle. That's why when Beowulf gathers people to go fight, they all
agree because they know they're going to win. Also, Beowulf's way of killing makes him an
ideal hero.

He employs no artillery but instead uses bare hands. Further, upon the death of Grendel’s
mother, Beowulf fights with the mother, who seeks vengeance for her son’s death and
gashes her using a huge brand that can only be lifted by physically strong men like him.

Funny enough, the monster’s head alone is too heavy for four men to carry, while Beowulf
lifts it up and carries it like light cargo, passing for an ideal idol. Another character that
qualifies him as the perfect idol is his lack of fear of death. Before going to war, Beowulf
addresses his wishes concerning death. In case, he wishes to see his means given to his
people if they end meets him in the fight. In fact, he says, “And if death takes me, send the
hammered mail of my armor to Higlac and return the inheritance I had from Hrethel and
Wayland. Fate will unwind, as it must”. He knows the incongruity behind woeful icons that
glory has to go to them in their life or their death, grounded on their deeds. thus, either way,
isn't a solicitude to him. On their way to fight, he declares that he'll either win or die for his
people. In every hassle with a tough situation on his trip, he understands the two possible
issues doom or goodwill.