Wiglaf In Beowulf

In modern society, heroes are considered to be everyday people. A hero does not have to wear a cape or have extensive super powers; one just has to be kind and courageous to be considered a hero. This common conception wasn’t nearly as common hundreds of years ago in Norse society. In their community, heroes needed to be stronger, smarter, and braver than the average human. In Seamus Heaney’s translation of the epic poem Beowulf, the ideal values of a heroic, brave warrior held by Norse society are demonstrated by many characters, such as Beowulf in his quest to seek fame and glory, his bravery throughout his many quests, and Wiglaf in his loyalty towards Beowulf. As a young, courageous warrior, Beowulf wishes to display his strength and bravery

As a human, it would be fair to believe that Wiglaf is greedy and thirsty for power, and wishes for Beowulf to die so he can take his place, yet Wiglaf is the opposite. Wiglaf proves to be extremely respectful and loyal to both Beowulf and his people, which is perfectly in line with the Norse ideal that above all, a good warrior should be loyal to his citizens. Wiglaf’s loyalty towards Beowulf is exemplified in their battle against the dragon, for when Beowulf is hurt by the dragon, Wiglaf steps up and helps defeat the creature. The poet describes the event showcasing Wiglaf’s strength and loyalty, “The noble son of Weohstan saw the king in danger at his side and displayed his inborn bravery and strength… He lunged at the enemy lower down so that his decorated wound sank into its belly and the flames grew weaker” (2695-2697, 2699-2701). When Beowulf regains his footing, Wiglaf even lets him give the dragon its final, fatal blow. Rather than letting Beowulf die and keeping all the fame and glory to himself, Wiglaf gives him the possible fame and respect he could gain from his people, just like a good Norse