Men are animals. We hunted, created shelters, migrated, whatever we needed to do to stay alive. Sometime after our species had established a functional, albeit rudimentary, society, we began to ask ourselves why we had done so. Small hunting parties became flourishing societies; they were no longer just for survival, but something better, or just because it was better in itself. It was beneficial for everyone in the society to work together... good for entire mankind. But what is good for man? The good for man is best expounded by the greek philosopher Aristotle as he talks about the good being “all things in moderation” (Aristotle 6). The broadness of that statement could apply to individual humans, as well as communities. Beowulf, for instance, seems to be the perfect exemplification of the existentialist hero, similar to our modern day, self-made superhero: batman. Additionally, the aged Beowulf (at the end of the poem) best exhibits the “all things in moderation” idea, because he …show more content…
Beowulf, as a young man, is very strong, warrior-like, and appears to be searching for trouble when he decides to fight Grendel, a human devouring monster, without using a sword. Beowulf proudly says, “it is better for all / to fight for our friends…” (Beowulf 45, 1384-1385). Beowulf fights for glory, but also for the wellbeing of others. While the young warrior fights to create a name for himself, he is aware of his responsibility to his fellow men, a responsibility best explained by existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre, “and when we say that a man is responsible for himself, we do not mean that he is responsible for his own individuality, but that he is responsible for all men” (Sartre 1216). Beowulf is fighting for glory and to make a name for himself, but he is also fighting for the people that Grendel terrorizes. Beowulf is fulfilling his responsibility to the other