Alienation In Beowulf

The Age of Heroes vs. The Age of Humanity

The notion of alienation is a very unusual one yet it is a widespread feeling—a very subjective, somewhat indefinable feeling—and a critique of the nature of any society that exists today. This theme of a sense of estrangement from one’s surroundings, oneself, and other people, appears to be as old as history itself. Depicted in a new verse translation of “Beowulf”, by Seamus Heaney, as a man’s fight in a hostile world, much like an alien spirit, engaged in a battle which he cannot win. The comparison between the time gone by, examples from Beowulf’s time; The age of heroes, to the time that we live in today; the age of humanity, can be made by discussing three important aspects of this sensation.
The second aspect is made by discussing the contradiction made between what one thinks of oneself to the identity assigned to them by a larger society. Examples from the poem are given through the telling of Beowulf’s last epic battle with the dragon and how that experience parallels with the modern example of a philosopher’s fight for the recognition of his theory. The third aspect is explored by discussing the philosophical side of the notion. Exploring the side that portrays alienation as an individual feeling of oneself based on the understanding and accepting of one’s own uniqueness rather than the opinions and rejection of others. Examples taken from excerpts in the poem explain this aspect as the character of Grendal is discussed contrasting with modern society’s definition of ‘like’ expressed through the status quos of the many groups who exist in a state that only they control. All in all, alienation is defined as a historical continuity that has existed since Adam and Eve arrived as the very first inhabitants on this planet and from the moment of their creation were alienated from their culture
In the age of heroes, to repeat the example of the emphasis put on the notion of the establishment of one’s identity as a hero. In modern society, this notion is also pursued through the same critique. During Beowulf’s time, the two principal components of recognition were ancestral heritage and individual reputation. Combined, the principals marked an established identity. Once this goal had been fulfilled, a hero was born in his own right. This gives society rights to expect much from their proclaimed hero. Sometimes they fell short of expectations and their title was questioned. An example of this can be seen in the poem when Beowulf sets forth to fight his final foe, the dragon. In the midst of his fight, his “...hand-picked troop broke ranks and ran for their lives to the safety of the wood.” (Beowulf Lines 2597-2599). Only one “man of worth” stayed by his lord’s side, a well regarded Shylfing warrior named Wiglaf. The men who ran had been hand-picked by their wise and old king but had still abandoned him during his last battle. The expectations that had been set for them forgotten, they broke their ranks and ran for their lives. Eventually, after the battle is fought, the men return and Wiglaf speaks disdainfully and in disappointment about what society expects from the armed guard of their lord: “…Beowulf had little