The Importance Of Choices In Beowulf

For as long as time itself we have had one major problem, our own choices. Our actions are always thought of what we should do, and what we actually do. The question that always presides in most people’s minds is what really should we do? Should our actions be dictated from a religious standpoint? I could turn that second question into another paper, but I will just keep it simple for now. During the era in which Beowulf was written, your social status highly affected your everyday choices. Some examples of this in Beowulf was Unferth, Beowulf not taking the offered spot as king right away, and his soldiers fighting against the dragon. Unferth was a smaller big role character. He was a Dane, and Beowulf in the beginning of the book came to …show more content…
Beowulf, even though he turned down the throne, eventually received his spot at the helm of his nation. When he did, people stopped attacking his country just because of his feared presence. When people stopped attacking, warriors stopped training. This was a huge burden on their country because the day Beowulf would pass it would throw them into an oblivion of hurt. The day came when they would see action, and the one and only Beowulf lead their crusade to go and find and put down a dragon that has been a burden on their land. When they found the dragon, Beowulf went in and the rest of the warriors stayed out because of his command. When a ruckus commenced, the warriors took fright and wanted to leave. One of the warriors Wiglaf stood up and said, “ promised our ring-giver we would be worth our price/ make good the gift of the war-gear/ those swords and helmets, as and when/ his need required it. He picked us out.” (Beowulf 179). The soldiers ran away, and Wiglaf stayed behind. The Warriors should have stayed to fight, like Wiglaf that is their standard to live up to in their society. It is not an easy thing to do, but it is what is expected of them. Instead only one stays and fights, and he gets greatly rewarded for