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Essay / Beowulf and The Romance of Tristan: Two heroic tragedies
In The Romance of Tristan by Beowulf and Beroul, the heroes Beowulf and Tristan are magnificent fighters. Their numerous victories against seemingly insurmountable odds and powerful enemies are testament to their fighting skills. Yet both heroes resort to violence in their exploits for different reasons and goals. While Beowulf engages in battle almost solely out of attraction to combat and the recognition of violent success, Tristan does so out of passion and devotion to love. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay The great noble Beowulf is portrayed and praised as a superb warrior from the moment he is introduced to those who need his help. When Hrothgar first meets Beowulf in his battered court, he remembers the fame of Edgetheow's son: "The sailors said, I remember... that this fighter which he held in his hands had the strength of thirty other men” (63). And Beowulf is quick to verify the rumor that he had great power, recounting the time when "I had bound five giants---their blood was on me---" and when he "crushed on the wave of serpents sea at night. in a close fight he broke the beasts" (64). Boastful, but apparently able to back up his words with deeds, he actually asks: "And should I not try a single match with that monster Grendel, a trial against this troll?" (64). Beowulf's confidence in his abilities is quite evident in this encounter between Geats and Danes, as is his desire to fight as a gauge of his power. He offers to fight the monstrous descendant of Cain with more concern to test himself than to actually protect Heorot "That my lord Hygelac, my warchief, may rejoice in me, I totally abjure the wearing of the yellow sword or shield in this battle. " declares the warrior (64-5). The battle against Grendel must be fair, so that if he wins, Beowulf can claim his fame and once again assert an achievement for his legend. Conversely, if the concern Beowulf's main goal was to save Hrothgar's kingdom, the Geat would certainly appreciate the support of his weapons and men, powerful warriors in their own right and perhaps valuable aid in dealing with Grendel (although Beowulf would easily defeat the infernal monster). The desire to fight for sport fuels Beowulf's heart at an even earlier age. At the first party in Heorot, Beowulf recounts his swimming race with Breca when they were teenagers. Even though the morning finds Breca but not Beowulf "cast to the seashore on the coast of the Battle-Reams," Beowulf sheds a different light on the one who won (68). Even after destroying the sea creatures that drag him into the sea as he and Breca run, Beowulf searches for and kills "seven sea monsters, in the severest night fight I have heard of" (69). Nothing compels this behavior in the future king of the Geats more than a burning desire to compete and test his limits. In fact, Beowulf's desire to fight for satisfaction and glory continues until his death. After the battle with Grendel, Prince Geat pursues Grendel's mother and defeats the Garou monster; his reward for fighting her is Grendel's head. Having saved Hrothgar's people twice, Beowulf can happily leave the State of Scylding with a great legacy that the Danes will remember him for forever. Beowulf's final battle with the dragon is another example of his desire for a challenge and a chance to triumph in an ancient age. If it should be noted that the old kingof the Geats also sets out to fight because of the dragon's decimation of his mead and the murder of his people, the dragon's treasure is what Beowulf speaks of in his speech to his subjects. “Now the edge, the hand and the blade must fight for the treasure!” he cries (130). “It is by my audacity that I will win this gold; otherwise, war will take your king, terrible scourge of life!” (131). And when Beowulf approaches death, the glory of his newly acquired treasure is what concerns him. He said to Wiglaf, his beloved relative, "Hurry, that I may behold this golden heritage, this ancient wealth... may I, more calmly, for the sake of the treasure, take my departure from life and of the lordship that I have held for a long time". (138). Once again, Beowulf here also speaks as a king who would like to leave his people a rich heritage, but the fire of his pride and desire for triumph, however dimly lit, is still present as life declines. Beowulf dies “an old man in sorrow,” but he is satisfied that he lost his life fighting for something and gained it (139). Contrary to Beowulf's intentions to fight, Tristan, Rivalen's son, actively participates in violence for his love, Yseut the Equitable. Although his battle with Morholt is not motivated by passion for the Irish princess, most other battles and incidents of violence in which Tristan participates involve some sort of symbol of devotion, protection, or retribution in the context of love . While Tristan, Yseut and Governal remain exiled in the Forest of Morrois, Tristan's dog, Husdant, is released to determine "if he is unhappy because of his master" or if he is crazy (81). When Husdant is allowed to wander and reunited with his master, Tristan is the only one saddened by his appearance. Worried for his and his lover's safety, Mark's nephew decides it's better for him to be killed than for us to be captured because of his barking. I very much regret that he has to die, because he is a good animal" (83). Here, the unequivocal devotion is shown by the knight, who for love of a beautiful lady would kill his companion Husdant, so faithful, so devoted to his master It is only thanks to the advice of the very one for whom he would sacrifice his dog that Tristan spares the canine and “tries to teach him to hunt game without barking” (83). love potion has worn off, Tristan's love for Yseut is strong. When King Mark asks Yseut that she must justify herself with an oath, she develops a plan that would allow her to take a true oath, all. by putting Tristan in potential danger if he were caught While a simple lie for the Irish princess would suffice and would not be such a dishonorable act (as she is already engaged in an adulterous relationship of her own will), Tristan is more. than willing to shame himself with his leper costume and appearance and risk getting caught. After Yseut's vindication, Tristan participates in violence to eliminate his enemies, those who know of his relationship with Yseut. Hidden in a grove of thorn bushes, he first mercilessly kills Denoalan. “To save himself, he cut off the head of the villain and did not even give him time to say: “I am wounded” (146). Adding to the brutality, Tristan cuts Dénoalan's hair to show it to Yseut. When he later visits Yseut's apartments. , with his help “against the light near the curtain he saw Godwin’s head” (148). The combat-accustomed knight kills the curious baron with a bow and arrow, which "pierced Godwin's eye and penetrated deep into his head and brain." (148). If Tristan can help him, no one who jeopardizes his relationship with Yseut will survive. The barons, evil.