Pagan Value and Christianity in Beowulf

Conflict and Convergence in Pagan Value and Christianity in Beowulf

By April40

Throughout the epic Beowulf, the poet strives to accommodate two sets of belief systems: pagan belief system and Christianity. While the former often maintains earthly good, the latter, in contrast, asserts heavenly salvation. Although pagan value and Christianity are characterized as a conflict between life honor and afterlife glory, they come to convergence in various degrees.



The poem highlights the pagan Germanic value of bravery, loyalty, vengeance, war, and desire for treasure, which is in consistent with Christian value of peace, forgiveness and spiritual life. In the poem, the protagonist Beowulf fights the monster Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and a fire-breathing dragon to reveal his bravery and personify his value of warrior culture. His defeat of Grendel and Grendel’s mother validates his reputation for courage and establishes him fully as a pagan hero. The treasure he gains through the battles seems to contradict Christian contempt for worldly good. Furthermore, consider the case of the Danish Hideburh and the Frisian king Finn. Hideburh is a “peace weaver”; nevertheless, when both her Danish brother and her Frisian son are killed in the war between the Danes and the Frisians, Hildeburh is left doubly grieved. Also, the war clashes with what Christianity advocates: a peaceful attitude toward one’s enemies.



However, in fact, pagan belief system and Christian tradition are alike in many respects, and share some close interaction between each other. Over the course of the poem, Beowulf matures from a fearless combatant into a wise leader. His transition demonstrates that differing set of value which accompanies each of his two roles. The distinctiveness between the two sets values as the youthful Beowulf desires personal glory in his lifetime, while the aged Beowulf seeks protection for his people, which calls the value of earthly good into question. And it might eventually contribute to a greater admiration and reputation after his death. In particular, his fabled swimming match with his childhood friend Breca, along with his final battle with the dragon which leads to his death, clearly proves his mortality. Additionally, the period that follows king Hygelac’s death is as well as an important transitional moment for Beowulf. Instead of rushing for the throne himself to gain the ultimate power, he supports Hygelac’s son, the rightful heir. We can see that Beowulf’s dedication to his people and his willingness to distribute shares of his treasure unquestionably overlap with Christian value. On the whole, Beowulf does not lead a particularly good life by Christian standards, but the poet cannot deny the fundamental pagan value of the story, and he cannot help but show his appreciation and great respect for Beowulf.



To sum up, notwithstanding that there are some tense conflicts, principally between pagan value of vengeance and earthly good and Christianity of forgiveness and heavenly salvation, pagan belief system and Christianity enjoy mutual influence that ensures Beowulf’s ascension into the secular heaven of warrior legend.