Examples Of Masculinity In Beowulf

Norman Mailer once said that “Masculinity is not something given to you, but something you gain. And you gain it by winning small battles with honor”. Masculinity, set of attributes, behaviors and roles generally associated with boys and men. It is a word that has remained a representation of what a man should be, rather than a description of how some men can be, and is considered to have many different forms. One form of masculinity emerges from the media portrayal of males through films, or a television show by reinforcing ideas about what it means to be a "masculine" man in today’s society, whether it is through his attributes or any sort of that nature. So essentially, the media choses what is to be show and what is to be discarded. To begin with, the …show more content…
The film is about a heroic warrior Beowulf, played by (Ray Winstone), who’s determination of glory, and his eagerness for fame in the end leads to his demise. Beowulf has to overcome challenges by killing the monster Grendel, Grendel’s mother, played by (Angelina Jolie) and a dragon. Beowulf displays his masculinity through his strength, honor, bravery, and through his physique. He represents, the ideal of what a man should be. For example, Beowulf had to help the king by killing the monster Grendel when no one else could. Prior to the fight, Beowulf stripes himself of his clothing and then his weapon and armor to meet the monster on equal terms and prove his worth. He believes that using his assets during the fight will not be fair and he does not deserve any glory if he wins; he has to kill the monster with his bare hands. Beowulf rips off Grendel’s arm and hangs it in the mead-hall as a trophy and also a reminder in history. By doing this, Beowulf shows his masculinity by upholding his dominance and power among the other soldiers.