Culture is a conceptual mural that can be interpreted differently by infinite groups of people. History recalls countless examples of cultures that have gone on to serve as archetypes for the many more that we know today. One interesting aspect of culture deals with the mediums in which it relays its messages and themes to others. Ranging from picture books to plays, these conduits have been responsible for the passage of valuable information that has been used to guide the moral compasses of millions. However, what happens when the values preached, are valued no more? Like any human, culture also finds ways to adapt to changing mindsets. For example, take the epic tale of Beowulf, which epitomized pre-Anglo Saxon culture, and compare it to
…show more content…
The naivete portrayed through this simplistic duality leads me to believe that modern culture has superseded that of the Anglo-Saxons in terms of intelligence. Rather than determine the moral composition of the world’s people with a metaphorical yin-yang, we choose to delve deeper in order to find the grey area that is essential in determining motive. In the movie Beowulf and Grendel, this modern concept is emphasized through the actions and characters that add to Grendel’s persona as the film progresses (Gunnarsson). Whereas the poem simply denounces Grendel as an evil fiend that hauntingly roams the world, the movie attempts to provide substance as to why Grendel behaves in the manner that he does. Through the various actions that explain his mannerisms, support for the modern concept of fairness can be found. Further proof of our cultural evolution as a race can be found in our ability to sympathize with a supposed foe whose “powers of destruction”(Heaney, 11), according to the Anglo-Saxons, apparently sought to destroy the well-being of the common good …show more content…
However, this modern concept of scrutinization has only come into play within the last 250 years, with the development of modern government that has had use of a justice system. Traditional cultures like the Anglo-Saxons denounced this analytical concept blatantly, which was apparent in their creation of fictional characters that flatly represented the concepts of good and evil. Unlike the Grendel of the epic poem, who could be described by Anglo-Saxons as “malignant in nature”(Heaney, 11), Grendel of the modern interpretation personifies a layered character that brings much more complexion to the table . Whereas the ancient text portrays this character as a menace to the public, the movie seeks to interpret Grendel merely as a victim of prejudice and misjudgement. Proof of this can be found in the patterns of Grendel’s attacks within the movie, which only occur towards those whom he believes deserve to pay for the death of his father, namely the Danish. This tells the audience that Grendel represents more than just a monster killing for sport, but rather a living being conscious enough to understand his actions and the reasoning behind his doings. The idea that Grendel is merely misunderstood finds further support in his relationship with Selma, a witch within the movie who defends him until the gloomy and tragic ending of the film. Together, the two
The naivete portrayed through this simplistic duality leads me to believe that modern culture has superseded that of the Anglo-Saxons in terms of intelligence. Rather than determine the moral composition of the world’s people with a metaphorical yin-yang, we choose to delve deeper in order to find the grey area that is essential in determining motive. In the movie Beowulf and Grendel, this modern concept is emphasized through the actions and characters that add to Grendel’s persona as the film progresses (Gunnarsson). Whereas the poem simply denounces Grendel as an evil fiend that hauntingly roams the world, the movie attempts to provide substance as to why Grendel behaves in the manner that he does. Through the various actions that explain his mannerisms, support for the modern concept of fairness can be found. Further proof of our cultural evolution as a race can be found in our ability to sympathize with a supposed foe whose “powers of destruction”(Heaney, 11), according to the Anglo-Saxons, apparently sought to destroy the well-being of the common good …show more content…
However, this modern concept of scrutinization has only come into play within the last 250 years, with the development of modern government that has had use of a justice system. Traditional cultures like the Anglo-Saxons denounced this analytical concept blatantly, which was apparent in their creation of fictional characters that flatly represented the concepts of good and evil. Unlike the Grendel of the epic poem, who could be described by Anglo-Saxons as “malignant in nature”(Heaney, 11), Grendel of the modern interpretation personifies a layered character that brings much more complexion to the table . Whereas the ancient text portrays this character as a menace to the public, the movie seeks to interpret Grendel merely as a victim of prejudice and misjudgement. Proof of this can be found in the patterns of Grendel’s attacks within the movie, which only occur towards those whom he believes deserve to pay for the death of his father, namely the Danish. This tells the audience that Grendel represents more than just a monster killing for sport, but rather a living being conscious enough to understand his actions and the reasoning behind his doings. The idea that Grendel is merely misunderstood finds further support in his relationship with Selma, a witch within the movie who defends him until the gloomy and tragic ending of the film. Together, the two