Beowulf Sir Gawain Character Analysis

Valor, integrity, fealty and sense of obligations are all characteristics that a true hero would possess. The heroic ideal seen in literature represents a certain culture and serves its culture a purpose at a time of crisis or importance. They often stand apart from their people and grief their inability to connect with them. Beowulf, Sir Gawain, and Macbeth are all heroic figures created by amazing authors who have impacted our English literature. While they all achieve similar characteristics in heroism they also demonstrate differences. Their valor is one of the first heroic characteristics that all three characters share. Beowulf, Sir Gawain, and Macbeth at some point in their story want the best for their culture and put their lives to risk in order to secure the lives of others. For example, in Beowulf, King Hrothgar of Denmark and the Danes suffer for many years hardships due to the number of deaths caused by Grendel, a horrible demon. Until moved by the needs of his people, young Beowulf decides to sail to Denmark along with a limited amount of men hoping to defeat Grendel and save his people from future horrors. In, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the Green Knight challenges the entire court and taunts them by asking ,“Where is

In his final chapters, Beowulf faces the dragon. Through his sense of responsibility for his people, Beowulf puts his life at risk and fights the dragon disregarding his own glory. Early in the story, Gawain is hold accountable and must keep the agreement he made with the Green Knight. Knowing his reputation and his king’s is at risk, Gawain follow through with his word. Again, Macbeth is the only one who doesn’t meet the heroic qualifications, as he fails to have a sense of obligation towards his people and only focuses on his own interest. Lead by his own ambitions, Macbeth acts unheroic and begins a