Grendel's Motivation In Beowulf

Someones motive is what they base their decisions on. Motivation can push someone to do their best at whatever the motive is. In the poem, Beowulf, Beowulf seems to show his true motive throughout the novel. He starts off being heroic to save the people and soon turns to be for the fame and fortune. His motivation for his first battle to his last are complete opposite as evidence by him fighting Grendel to save the people of Herot, taking Grendel's head and mothers sword as trophies from battle, and fighting the dragon for the treasure he holds. When Beowulf hears of Grendel’s night raids in Herot he takes the responsibility of picking his top fourteen men and heads over to stop Grendel. Beowulf goes into this first battle and boast feeling powerful and brave as if he has no fear to how strong Grendel. “My lord Higlac/ Might think less of me if I let my sword/ Go where my feet were afraid to, if I hid/ Behind some broad linden shield: my hands/ Alone shall fight for me, struggle for life/ Against the monster”(265-270). Beowulf shows no …show more content…
“I’ve never known fear, as a youth I fought/ In endless battles. I am old, now, But I will fight again, seek fame still, If the dragon hiding in his tower dares/ To face me”(624-628). He does not mention once going into battle to save his people. His main motivation for his final battle is to seek fame and fortune so when he dies his name will be honored. Beowulf's motivation from start to end are two completely different motives as evidence by his first boast he goes into battle to save the people, his second battle he goes for the fame, and his final battle is all for the fame and treasure. Someones motive can determine their fate. It is the decisions the make along their journey that can make their fate honorable or just