Archetypes In Sir Gawain And Beowulf

Sir Gawain and Beowulf: An Analysis of Culture Values Through Archetypes In literature, heroes or protagonists tend to mirror their cultural beliefs and values. Through the protagonist’s actions and decisions, the reader may recognize both the concerns and ideals of the hero’s culture. As heroes experience various trials and tribulations, the reader gains wisdom alongside them, building upon cultural ideals for proper behavior, attitude, and societal obligations. In the Middle Ages, for instance, Sir Gawain clearly exhibits the key value of honor by his acceptance of the Green Knight’s challenge and Beowulf demonstrates the value of honor by his refusal to stand down in the face of adversaries, such as the dragon. Thus, Beowulf and Sir Gawain function as representatives of Anglo-Saxon and Middle-English values, both

“Now is the time when I would have wanted to bestow this armour on my own son, had it been my fortune to have fathered an heir and live on in his flesh. For fifty years I ruled this nation. No king of any neighbouring clan would dare face me with troops, none had the power to intimidate me. I took what came, cared for and stood by things in my keeping, never fomented quarrels, never swore to a lie. All this consoles me, doomed as I am and sickening for death; because of my right ways, the Ruler of mankind need never blame me when the breath leaves my body for murder of kinsmen (lines 2724-2743).
Beowulf learns, at the end of his life, how to accept all that the good and the bad that he has done in his lifetime. He reflects upon his life decisions and regrets none, which allows Beowulf to welcome death with open arms, not fearing blame from “the Ruler of mankind” (line 2741). Through Beowulf’s final words, the reader may recognize the cultural values of trustworthiness, responsibility, and