Beowulf Psychoanalytic Analysis Essay

Psychoanalytic Criticism, founded by Sigmund Freud, is the theory that people’s behavior is affected by their unconscious. Freud introduced his psychoanalytic work in the 1880s through treating the behavioral disorders of his Viennese patient. In order to achieve his work, Freud treated his patients by listening through their problems. Freud concluded the unconscious mind is motivated by desires, fears, needs, and conflicts in which the people are unaware. In addition, he believes the unconscious was influenced by childhood events and relationships. Also, Freud preserves our desires and our unconscious in three areas of the mind that dominants our evolution: id, ego, and superego. Id is the location of desires, ego is the defense against drive, and superego is the
Looking through the psychoanalytic lens in Beowulf, the main character’s behavior and characteristics evaluate the inconsiderable and risk taking decisions being made. For twelve years, King Hrothgar and the Danes faced ruthless attacks from Grendel. Beowulf, a valiant man among the Geats, sailed the ocean to seek for King Hrothgar in establishing an agreement of Beowulf helping to slay Grendel. Beowulf told Hrothgar, “Then my people counselled me, the best of men in their wisdom, that I should seek thee, Prince Hrothgar, because they knew the power of my strength, they saw it themselves, when I came out of battles, blood-stained from my foes”(anonymous 8). Beowulf and the Geats are conscious that the power and strength of Beowulf can exceed the impossible task. Furthermore, Beowulf anticipates that he will not slay Grendel with his sword, but rather with his own bare hands. Beowulf feels he has to prove himself and the world that he can defeat the odds, in which the id is proven of his desires of killing Grendel. After Grendel’s death, Beowulf is naturally growing until he now