Beowulf Essay

               “If you are not the hero of your own story, then you're missing the whole point of your humanity.” A quote by Steve Maraboli accurately portrays the contemporary life of a hero that we all can have the opportunity to achieve. The story Beowulf is quite riveted with seemingly impossible feats to most readers but when asked to compare it to a single contemporary hero, I found it rather difficult until it hit me that the comparison of humanity would amass to Beowulf staggering feats and heroic tendencies. The core instances of this shoot from the common grunt defending his or her country, to the politicians fighting a heroic battle of their own accord, and finally the average person being sufficiently mandible to design themselves as the heroes of their path.

               The common foot solider on the front line defending his country may be considered a pawn to a master scheme but is honestly in the same category as Beowulf who saw the charge to perform heroic deeds and answered the call to defend what they believe is right with the self-interest to reap the moral and stature heightening rewards. The comparison personally seems logical but some can argue how a foot solider wouldn’t be able to fight Grendel and other legendary behemoths however they can perform breathtaking deeds on the battle field such as taking down a AH-64 Apache with a common rifle and in this sense it seems the common foot solider and Beowulf are one in the same. Though what actually classifies heroicness as combat oriented acts what about the heroic prowess of words?

               The power of words seem to be underestimated throughout the course of time and most could argue of how actions speak louder than words but then that would mean people like Martian Luther King  Jr’s actions were in vain when in actuality they were some of the most efficacious in the pursuit of liberty. Both Beowulf and Martian Luther king Jr fought for the freedom of their people one against the sovereignty of malicious monstrosities and the other against the brute known as racism though Beowulf used combat skills he was just as vocal in inspirational speeches that showered upon his followers as Martin Luther King Jr was. The idea that actions or words make you a hero sounds fairly preposterous because in truth there is another way to become a hero.

               The ultimatum that not many people see because they choose to be blind to it, thinking they have no true purpose and let others build up their purpose for them is that anyone is the hero of their own accord but most don’t notice this and sadly disregard the call that beckons them to be something more. Beowulf heard his call and he sprang for it, firmly believing in his path and could be compared to any one of us who choose to ignore are limitations or bonds that hold us to follow others. At the start of any day anyone can be a hero all you have to do is tower over the darkness that convolutes the light to becoming great and once there you can decide how to preach your heroic manner whether it be actions, word, or maybe something completely outlandish such as a person with a dream. This quote should suffice in what the contemporary hero should live by “Don't be held back by someone else's bullshit in fake memories. The one path you chose for yourself is the truth of your universe.”