Criticism of the Values of Anglo-Saxons

Beowulf’s criticism through speech can be clearly understood in the dialog between Beowulf (the hero of the tale) and Unferth (a jealous warrior of Beowulf) as they exchange insults with one another:

Are you the Beowulf that strove with Breca

In a swimming match in the open sea,

Both of you wantonly tempting the waves,

Risking your lives on the lonely deep

For a silly boast? No man could dissuade you,

Nor friend nor foe, from the foolhardy venture. (389-394)

Much have you made of the deeds of Breca!

Beowulf’s speech made Unferth feel unworthy as a noble thane, as the public realized that the society is based on a reality of negative comments and heroic deeds; the image of self-interest is strongly criticized.

The idea of defending one’s self-interest was a major value the Anglo-Saxons supported. Beowulf makes the reader realize that it is human to have this value of benefiting oneself, even the most moral character will have some characteristic of such value, which was seen in Beowulf’s death. Through the speeches and actions of the characters in Beowulf, the poem criticizes the value of self-interest of the Anglo-Saxons’ society. In our modern society, we still have this value of self-interest in our minds, even though our society is based on the value of completing favors for others before completing favors for ourselves, but we are only human and its natural to have this characteristic of self-interest in each of us.

mpts to make a fool out of Beowulf, Unferth presents the Anglo-Saxons’ value that everyone has to compete with one another to

Some topics in this essay:
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