Medieval WomenThe roles of women in early Anglo-Saxon culture were strictly defined. Women were considered property and fulfilled the function of weavers of peace. In this role, women were married into warring tribes to promote peace and were expected to perform tasks such as passing the cup from warrior to warrior during ceremonies. Women in Anglo-Saxon culture possessed virtually no autonomy and were therefore constantly at the mercy of their lords or husbands. The sense of isolation and despair felt by these women is captured in the “Wife's Lament” as the speaker describes her inability to control her own situation. The female characters Wealhtheow, Hildeburh, and Freawaru in Beowulf also show the limited role of women as peace-weavers. The only female character with some power in Beowulf is Grendel's mother, who takes revenge for her son's death. The speaker of “The Wife’s Lament” is a peacemaker who was abandoned by her tribe. She describes how she was separated from her husband and sent “into a friendless exile – to seek a home to protect [her] from miserable want” (103). The exiled woman lives alone in the desert and reflects on how the vow between her and her husband to stay together forever was broken. The implication is that the war probably separated the couple, as shown in the lines: "From far and near I must suffer the quarrel of my beloved" (103). It is clear that this woman has no control over what happened to her and must therefore lament the loss of her love. Because she no longer has a husband, the speaker finds herself without a role or place in society and she finds herself alone. The stories of Hildeburh and Freawaru, like...... middle of paper ...... time) remain ceremonial. It is interesting and telling that Grendel's mother, Beowulf's only empowered and aggressive wife, is seen as a monster. Works Cited Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Seventh edition. Volume 1. Ed. Mr. H. Abrams. New York: WW Norton & Company, 2000. 114-209. Sanders, Arnie. "The Exeter Book." English 211: Beowulf at Dryden>.Dept. of English, Goucher College. February 1, 2004. “The Vagabond”. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Seventh edition. Volume 1. Ed. Mr. H. Abrams. New York: WW Norton & Company, 2000. 114-209. “The Woman’s Lament”. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Seventh edition. Volume 1. Ed. Mr. H. Abrams. New York: WWNorton & Company, 2000. 114-209.