A STUDY OF HROTHGAR AND HIS FLAWS AS A KING IN BEOWULF
ABSTRACT
Beowulf, the national epic of England, starts with the account of the forefathers of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes. It is the fragment of a mythical saga about Scyld Scefing, the first culture-hero of the North whose line of descendants is carried down to king Hrothgar. This epic treats many enduring aspects of basic human conditions, such as the concepts of honour, courage, loyalty and immortality, not to mention the constant struggle between good versus evil. In it the poet has endowed Hrothgar with certain good qualities. At the same time he has some weakness which is unsuitable for any king and is not normally associated with successful rulers. In the first part of it, he is presented as the ideal king; after the nightly attacks of the monster Grendel, he is not and his virtues inevitably find lesser modes of expression. Thus he develops by degrees into a weak king. This paper aims to show the flaws of the Danish king Hrothgar.
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Beowulf, one of the oldest existing poems in the English language, starts with Hrothgar, the king of the Danes. He rules successfully for fifty years and defends his nation until there is no enemy. Then his luck changes due to the nightly attacks of the monster Grendel. After its assault the peace of the Danes is broken as Hrothgar cannot suggest a solution. However, his life can be divided into two parts. In the first part of the epic, he is presented as the ideal king full of glories and virtues and remains a flawless one. The second phase starts after Grendel’s violent visitations whose attacks mark the end of Hrothgar’s success as a ruler and shows his flaws to the readers for the first time. In fact, Beowulf “. . . is a contrasted description of two moments in a great life, rising and setting . . . (Tolkien,1936: 264). Based on the close reading of the epic, we have chosen an opinion article to express what we have learnt from the topic. The paper argues that a king can be old but he cannot give up hope for the protection of his people. He can have weaknesses but a king is expected to be a sheltering figure even in his old age. At the same time a ruler should always be ready to confront with evil.
Beowulf “ . . . was composed sometime between the middle of the seventh and the end of the tenth century of the first millennium, in the language, that is to-day called Anglo-Saxon or Old English”(Heaney,2007: IX). There is, it may be noted, no mention of England in it. The scene is laid in the Danish Island and in south Sweden. “ The idea of the hall- as a place of joy and security until threatened by external forces of evil-plays a major part in this poem.”(Webster,1998: 214). According to Arnold “King Hrothgar. . . Having collected unrivalled band of ‘companions’, determined to build the greatest hall ever known. When it had been put up-tall, wide-gabled, and towering-he called it ‘Heorot”(Arnold, 1967: 125). So after the construction of it, the monster Grendel gets jealous of the feasting and rejoicings at it and decides to shatter the peace of the Danes. As Bloomfield points out: “. . . by Grendel’s raids the fame of the Scyldins is blasted, the utmost human effort frustrated, the mightiest rulers made impotent” (Bloomfield, 1968: 59). Till the demon’s arrival at the hall, joy exists in Hrothgar’s kingdom and we do not see any defect in him. But during his kingship, the harmony of the hall and Denmark is broken because of the evil. The broken peace indicates his flaw as his forefathers did not face such problem. Thus begins the endless sufferings of all as Hrothgar cannot be the saviour of his people as fear has shaken his spirit. Actually, he cannot find any way to overcome the hostile forces for lack of self-confidence, courage, iron-will, pessimism and inconsistence in religious faith which symbolize his limitations as a king. And his personal example soon communicates to the Danes, and they cannot be hopeful.
Hrothgar also suffers mental torture, for he knows he has lost heavenly joys and would now be subjected to eternal misery. Old age can take Hrothgar’s strength but he can comfort his troubled subjects. But we see after Grendel’s nightly visits, he is in deep distraught as his best warriors are also failures to fight against the monster exposing the Danes to danger. Hrothgar’s puzzlement is obvious in his speech. He cannot realize that courageous death for people will be dignified than living like a coward. His heroic nephew Hrothluf is also inactive. Hrothgar is successful until Grendel attacks. So it can be understood that his success is transient. Truly, Grendel’s arrival is a test for the king as a defender of the Danes and as a believer in God. But he fails in it for giving up hope and his inability to settle this problem through counsel, diplomacy or strength.
Beowulf opens with the mythical account of the Scylding dynasty. Scyld Shefing, the founder’s son Beow conquered the neighbouring kingdoms and cleansed their own kingdom from the attack of the enemies. Hrothgar becomes the ruler when his two brothers died. He gets a realm safe from all sides. So he did not feel the urgency of ensuring the safety of Denmark and when Grendel attacks, he gets passive and totally pessimistic. He fought battles successfully only in youth and in his old age fails to protect his countrymen from Grendel and his subjects cannot consider him “guardian of the people” any more.
Grendel kills anyone who spends night at Heorot. But Hrothgar does not order his retainers to stop sleeping there at night to avoid the assault of the fiend. So the ravage “. . . continues for twelve years, till Beowulf. . . a thane of king Hygelac who stays over the sea, hears of the nuisance and determines to end it”(Saintsbury, 2005: 8).
Hrothgar’s permission is based on Beowulf’s ancestry and strength only. He welcomes Beowulf and his warriors easily because of his despair. He is not also keen on self-help. As a result, he does not verify Beowulf’s altruistic purpose and welcomes him easily without thinking about the impact of his arrival at his kingdom. It could be precarious for the safety of Danmark. Even the Danes could want to see Beowulf as their new ruler for their protection. Contradictorily, we see Hrothgar has over-confidence in Beowulf’s generosity though Beowulf comes with his fourteen best warriors. Moreover, Hrothgar considers Beowulf’s arrival as a sign of God’s grace and accepts him as a rescuer showing his inability as a defender of the Danes. The queen Wealtheow also feels very much assured as she also cannot count on her king as a rescuer of Denmark. His disturbed subjects also start to laugh after twelve years as he cannot cheer them up.
Hrothgar’s coastguard did not have any proof of Beowulf’s true identity but allowed him to the kingdom as he was impressed by Beowulf’s speech and behaviour. So we can say that Hrothgar is not able to provide tight security to his kingdom. Beowulf and his warriors were dressed in armour and carried shields and equipment for combat. In this situation the coastguard should not have allowed Beowulf and his companions easily without being confirmed about his identity. But the king did not criticize him for guiding Beowulf to Heorot, rather the king expresses his surprise about the strength of the new arrival:
Nor have I seen a mightier man –at-arms on this earth than the one standing . . .
(ll-247-50)
Without seeing Beowulf, Hrothgar also tells his chamberlain Wulfgur:
they are welcome to Denmark.
(ll-89)
He also admits his failure to save his kingdom from the evil before the Geatish fighters as he does not know that a ruler has constantly to renew his great image in the eyes of the citizens and outsiders.
Despite having a very old family tie between Hrothgar and Beowulf’s family, in his distress, Hrothgar could have invited such great fighter to protect his kingdom. He tolerated the attacks of the monster for twelve long years and he also did not ask for any help from the adjacent kingdoms when was unable to relieve the pang of his subjects. Hrothgar knew about Beowulf’s power because he informs his counselor Wulfgar about it:
A crew of seamen who sailed for me once
with a gift –cargo across to Geatland
returned with marvelous tales about him:
a thane, they declared, with the strength of thirty
in the grip of each hand.
(ll-377-81)
As he and his throne are safe from Grendel’s attacks due to the protection of God, Hrothgar did not appeal for Beowulf’s help. Conversely, after arrival, Beowulf has to request the king not to refuse him who is renowned for killing sea-monsters:
And so, my request, O king of Bright-Danes, Dear prince of the Shieldings, friend of the people And their ring of defense, my one request Is that you won’t refuse me, who have come this far,The privilege of purifying Heorot,
With my own men to help me, and nobody else.
(ll-427-32)
Even Hrothgar’s warrior Wulfgar has had to request him not to refuse Beowulf as they cannot have faith in their king as a defender of the Danes:
Most gracious Hrothgar, do not refuse them, but grant them a reply.
(ll-366-7)
Beowulf volunteers to serve for Hrothgar’s kingdom and wants to fight heroically not for his sake but for restoring order, harmony and relieving the Danes of the monster. He has to undertake the responsibility of the king who has collapsed in despair and dismay.
Hrothgar tells Beowulf that he did not expect ever to live to see relief from any of his woes-when the best houses stood shining with blood as by virtue of wit and presence of mind he could not save the Danes and returned to paradise. This statement is very unkingly. In the words of Dandy: “. . . in fact God does provide a cure for Grendel-Beowulf, and this is recognized by the poet in the mouth of Hrothgar himself” (Dandy,1968: 55). Actually, Hrothgar is a well-loved king but cannot return the love of his subjects as he does not know that a ruler must not surrender but courageously fight until death for the security of his people. In addition, Hrothgar was in constant fear of Grendel as he could not depend on the creator. But after Beowulf’s arrival he shows firm faith in God and utters before him:
My household guard are on the wane, fate sweeps them away into Grendel’s clutches-but God can easily halt these raids and harrowing attacks!
(ll-478-9)
Hrothgar also gratefully acknowledges the fact that God has sent Beowulf to his rescue.
Now Holy God
Has, in his goodness, guided him here To the West-Danes, to defend us from Grendel.
(ll-381-3)
These utterances show his dualism and religious fickleness sand such a contrast shows him in an unfavourable light.
Heorot, the symbol and the setting of Beowulf, represents wastage of money and excessive merriment, encouraging the rich tribes to contribute to its decoration. Consequently, Hrothgar’s wasteful nature brings disaster for him and for the whole kingdom. But he never considers the possibility that Grendel’s jealousy is caused by him or by the Danes.
At the banqueting hall, Unferth, an empty talker and the drunken spokesman, questions Beowulf’s self-confidence and ability to perform his deed successfully for his jealousy of Beowulf before the entire Danish court. Moreover, Hrothgar’s honourable rescuer is taunted by Unferth with having failed in a swimming contest against a certain Breca. But, surprisingly, the king does not admonish him for discrediting Beowulf. Rather, he remains a silent listener which is insulting to his rescuer. Unferth can be a courtier to the king but a true ruler cannot just be an onlooker before his guest. Actually he gets confused by any rough situation and is unable to solve any problem. To comfort wrathful Beowulf, Hrothgar’s queen comes forward to comfort their liberator. Due to Hrothgar’s incapability to protect the honour of his saviour, Boeowulf has to defend himself.
Beowulf also suppresses his wrath and silences Unferth:
You killed your own kith and kin, so for all your cleverness and quick tongue, you will suffer damnation in the depths of hell.
(ll-(387-9)
Astonishingly, this fratricide Unferth is Hrothgar’s spokesman and his untrusting nephew Hrothluf also holds a high position in his court. Thus he proves his unwise selection of courtiers. His daughter Freawaru is given in marriage to Ingeld. But since there is an old feud between the two nations, the marriage cannot settle the dispute. So he fails to show prudence in his daughter’s marriage also.
After the attempted insult, Unferth makes amends on his own by giving Beowulf his famous sword ‘Hrunting’ to fight against Grendel’s mother. But we do not see any attempt on Hrothgar for the clearance of their quarrel. In contrast, he spends the night with his queen handing over control of the hall as well as power to Beowulf and tells him:
Never, since my hand could hold a shield have I entrusted or given control
of the Danes’ hall to anyone but you.
(ll-675-7)
Moreover, he departs Heorot before the arrival of Grendel like a selfish ruler. Even when Beowulf fights against Grendel, the Danes hear the noise of the combatant. But do not offer any assistance to Beowulf.