The legal Blood Feud system that was created in medieval societies to try and prevent blood feud from happening, ultimately made the vengeful killing by the victim’s family legal. The Christian Beowulf-poet condemns the system of blood feud, because it destabilizes and destroys societies, arguing instead for peaceful diplomacy like that of Queen Wealtheow. Grendel and his mother are acting within the blood feud system, therefore they cannot be blamed for the damage, but rather the legal blood feud system is at fault. In Anglo-Saxon societies, of which Beowulf is set in, to exile someone is to place them as a social wolf. This exiled person is allowed to be killed or hunted, under the law, without repercussion. This is a result of a blood feud, in which the exiled person did not pay the death price to the
…show more content…
The poet describes the Danes as helpless towards the wrath of Grendel. He describes Grendel’s act as a “cruel humiliation” (Beowulf 166) towards the Danes because they could not find his dwelling and they were perpetually drunk, ending in them constantly being available to the wrath of Grendel. Unferth is a prime example of the Danes inexperience and inability to help themselves. The poet criticizes Unferth for not only not attempting to stop Grendel, but also for “becoming your brothers’ killer” (Beowulf 587) and states “for that you needs must suffer punishment in hell” (Beowulf 589). The Christian poet states people who participate in blood feud, like killing their brothers, must face punishment in hell. This is a clear condemnation of the system of blood feuds. Another example is when Beowulf dies and the Geat nation will be destroyed solely due to blood feud. He was able to reign peacefully for 50 years. He did not participate in the blood feuds, so none of the foreign nations had a reason to challenge him. Without him, blood feuds will end the Geat
The poet describes the Danes as helpless towards the wrath of Grendel. He describes Grendel’s act as a “cruel humiliation” (Beowulf 166) towards the Danes because they could not find his dwelling and they were perpetually drunk, ending in them constantly being available to the wrath of Grendel. Unferth is a prime example of the Danes inexperience and inability to help themselves. The poet criticizes Unferth for not only not attempting to stop Grendel, but also for “becoming your brothers’ killer” (Beowulf 587) and states “for that you needs must suffer punishment in hell” (Beowulf 589). The Christian poet states people who participate in blood feud, like killing their brothers, must face punishment in hell. This is a clear condemnation of the system of blood feuds. Another example is when Beowulf dies and the Geat nation will be destroyed solely due to blood feud. He was able to reign peacefully for 50 years. He did not participate in the blood feuds, so none of the foreign nations had a reason to challenge him. Without him, blood feuds will end the Geat