Monthly Archives: December 2010

Within the great story of Beowulf the theme was very blunt. Never make a deal with demons, no matter how tempting or pretty they may be. The poem had not described Grendel’s mother as a beautiful woman like the movie did so the only thing that really tempted Beowulf comparing both scenarios; was the natural craving of power. To become a king seemed like that was his top priority and in the end he rationalized that he deserved that much. However, when you make a deal with those who are corrupt it will come back to haunt you, its unavoidable. Within the story he knew of this in the back of his mind that it would be due time for the deal to break but he banked on a small hope that it wouldn’t be so. When the deal was broken he found himself in battle with his son as his opponent. The comparison between Grendal and Beowulf’s son was a significant difference. Grendal seemed distorted and was unnaturally different but to be the offspring of a warrior showed imminent strength. Beowulf’s son being a dragon symbolized a massive strength and terror. It was sad to know how it ended between them but it was foreseen.

The story of Gilgamesh is an epic poem that revolves around the King of Uruk, Gilgamesh, who is 2/3 G-d and 1/3 human. He reigns over his city with an iron fist, doing whatever he wants with no regard for the citizens of the city. The citizens soon became fed up with their ruthless tyrant, so they went to the only source that they could go to to bring peace back to their town, the g-ds. The g-ds answered their pleads by bringing forth a being of equal strength, Enkidu. Gilgamesh and Enkidu soon became friends and from their on decided to test their strength against a renowned monster. So the two went to Humbaba the monster of the forest and after a great battle, Gilgamesh had slain Humbaba, but not without a price. Enkidu died during the battle with Humbaba but it taught Gilgamesh to appreciate life more. When Gilgamesh goes back to his town he understand what it means to appreciate what you have and begins to treat his citizens with kindness.

The lesson that Gilgamesh learns is a very important one. He learns that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Before Enkidu challenged Gilgamesh as the strongest, Gilgamesh power went unchecked and therefore he was able to do whatever he wanted to. He then learned that life is short and it can end at any moment (shown to him by the death of Enkidu) and life should not be made to make his citizens life difficult and miserable.

Medea is different that most stories written from that time. It tells the story of a woman who attempts to, and succeeds in, destroy all of the men that have ruined her life. Most of the stories that were written at this time were about g-ds and heroic men, but Euripides decides to write about a woman’s struggle to find acceptance and equality. A main focal point in this story is the theme of feminism. It is clearly evident as the story goes on that Medea is a woman who, has not gone insane, but has entered a state of mind where she no longer cares for the well-being of the other humans that she lives with. She kills the King Creon and her husband Jason as acts of revenge for banishing her and for leaving her for another woman, respectively. She also commits a heinous act that most woman cannot wrap their minds around, much less follow through. She kills both of her boys, not out of a lack of love, but because she is doing it out of spite for her ex-husband. She wants to take away all possibilities of Jason to have a family.

Beowulf was a great story filled with heroics, monsters and mothers. Beowulf is the complete and total epitome of what a true “man” should be, for he is: strong, brave, fearless and a great leader. He risked his life to fight off Grendel, even though the Grendel monster was not terrorizing his own town. Even though he was given plenty of gold and praise for his achievement, this does not take away from any of it in my eyes. He did not ask for any of the special gifts that he received for killing Grendel or his mother. After Beowulf returned to his home land he told the stories of his adventures to the people of his town and they couldn’t believe all that he had done. But Beowulf had one more task before he could die in peace. He must save his own town from a unrelenting dragon. The dragon had been stolen from and therefore attacked everything. Beowulf had to once again save the day, even though age had begun to take an effect on him. He fought and defeated the dragon, but at the price of his life. The dragon had bit him in the neck and as the dragon’s poison was coursing through Beowulf body, he told his story to the only comrade that would fight with him. Beowulf was the most courageous and honorable man that the world had ever seen and probably will ever see. He is what superman is in today’s culture.