Social Roles of Women in The Poem 'Beowulf'

Beowulf’s poem centers on the masculine. It is written from a masculine view, its main characters are male, and it is strongly affected by male-dominate topics To the Anglo-Saxon’s, women did not serve as incredibly prominent figures. In a society where war was consistent in everyday life, the ability to fight, being powerful, and ultimately being warriors were treasured. This has left little room for women’s impact, so much that literary scholar Gillian R. Overing has chosen women as marginal, excluded figures. A re-examination of women’s roles in Beowulf, however, shows that women contribute considerably to their narrative.

The Beowulf women enact the social roles that males are unable to fulfill, especially the role of peace weaver, hostess role, and mother role. They're both kings because they're bonded to the prince, and they're hostesses because they're getting individuals in the room and making sure everyone's sleeping and getting a nice moment. Queen Wealhtheow is an illustration of a good weaver of peace, because she plays an active part in society through words of encouragement to her individuals and giving her heroes treasure. Queen Hildeburh, on the other side, fundamentally fails.

Regardless of whether the queens succeed or fail in their role, their gender has an impact on the narrative of the poem. Wealhtheow is the seal that keeps the Scyldings-Beowulf connection alive, and Hildeburh stays the centerpiece of the silent ceremony depicting her event. Wealhtheow is also a great mistress' ideal template. It is her cup holding exercise that provides the biggest understanding into the ladies ' position, as it was not only used to invite, but also to show personal position and allegiance.

Queen Modthryth and Grendel's mom are instances of unsatisfactory hostesses, but what is important is that while these two personalities succeed in their position, only Grendel's mom is shunned, pointing to the reality that Grendel's mom is a murderer and not portion of a thriving culture. Hence, the dancers ' woman function deciphers the interactions in culture and also exposes the poem's prejudices. The function of Grendel's mom as a mom has an enormous effect on the poem and the public in particular. She is defined as' grief-racked,' a natural characteristic that would have been recognized by the crowd. The poet is willing to evoke sympathy with her motherly bond, the poet is able to evoke empathy towards a monster that is descended from Cain.

Not only do the women reside up to their own gender roles, it can be asserted, but they also pass the limits into what was stereotypically deemed masculine positions. It is the mom of Grendel who plays the role of a warrior, a place that people have always picked up. She alone difficulties a silent woman's stereotype when at Heorot Hall she brings on Beowulf and his males. Indeed, as a monster, Grendel's mother was to be assumed to contest ordinary cultural rules, but the poem queens also enact the responsibilities traditionally provided to males, such as the position of management. Wealhtheow prevents her own ambitions by encouraging Hrothgar to carry Hrothulf as her successor and keep the realm for her children, and the poet does not indicate that her phrases are being ignored. In addition, Queen Hygd efficiently puts management into her own fingers when she tries to give the Geats Kingdom to Beowulf following the murder on the fighting of Hygelac, her husband.

Beowulf may be a poem that goes on men's behavior, but this does not lead immediately in women being' excluded. Women play a passive role, while men have an active role which proves their masculinity. The women portray functions that can only be played as portion of an ordinary working culture. They also delve into what were traditionally deemed male functions, demonstrating that these personalities are more than they meet the vision.