Beowulf Vs Hamlet Research Paper

When lining the characters Beowulf and Hamlet side by side many will not see the parallels of these characters instead, only the differences. At a first glance, we see Beowulf, the strong warrior who died whilst defeating three gruesome monsters, and Hamlet, the awkward and fearful prince who died trying to fulfill a foolish act of hatred. Ultimately, we view them as hero and anti-hero. However, what we do not see is how similar these two characters truly are. Although both characters vary in how they come across in such situations, they ultimately face similar circumstances. Both Beowulf and Hamlet are ridding Denmark of a monster, are courageous, and die in victory.

The two stories follow young men on a journey to rid a kingdom of the monsters

Beowulf dies at a late age after defeating three grueling, bone-chilling monsters that no one else could have defeated. He became king of the Geats and ruled for “fifty winters-he was then a wise king” (l.2209) before his ultimate death at the end of the tale. Although he dies he dies perfectly content as he knows death is his destiny, “fate has swept away/ all of my kinsmen, earls in their courage,/to their final destiny; I must follow them” (ll.2814-2816). He lived to see the day where he was ruler of the Geats, and defeated all those that threatened hardship upon his land. Hamlet’s victory in death was him fulfilling his ultimate goal, avenging his father. Although he died young he died knowing he made good on the promise to his father. It is not made perfectly clear whether Hamlet is at peace with his untimely death, but he does make it clear with his dying words that he wishes people to know he died not a villain but a hero “Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind/ me!/If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart/Absent thee from felicity a while,/And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain/To tell my story.” (Hamlet V.ii.342-347). These two characters saw evil in life and destroyed said evil. They took on responsibility that was not theirs and saw their efforts to be ones of triumph; And in the end both men defeated their enemies with their final

Their goals to rid Denmark of terrible monsters who have taken rule, leads them on prolonged journeys of courage and victory. Through their parallel characters we learn selfish acts can often lead to good deeds. Sometimes shown through acts of bravery, Beowulf slaying his first monster sans armour, and other times through acts of the heart, Hamlet avenging his father’s untimely death. These two characters were bold and daring in their lives, they saw opportunity to make right by others wrongs and took it. They were loved by their people and praised for their triumphs. Both characters took on roles not asked of them and both succeeded in their travels to victory even if death was their ultimate