The Real Happily Ever After Although many fantasy tales end with a “happily ever after”, for the character Unferth there was never a “happily ever after” throughout his life. In Robert Nye’s novel Beowulf: A New Telling, Unferth, an outcast from society tries to make sure that no one can defeat Grendel, a fierce monster, or the other devilish lords of the fen. Unferth is a flat character throughout the novel and does not agree that good can ever defeat evil. Later in the story, though, he is befriends the protagonists and dies to his former ally, Grendel’s Mother. Unferth is characterized as a wicked person that teaches the reader that envy can break friendship ties and loyalty is not permanent.
Unferth is loyal to the dark forces believing …show more content…
For instance, describing Unferth’s acts during Aeschere’s death Beowulf narrates, “His wrists weren’t strong enough to lift it down without dropping it and wakening us all. He was a weakling, in more ways than one”(Nye 59). Unferth is characterized as someone who needs mental strength in removing the uncomfortable thoughts in his mind, which Beowulf, in this case, can do. One can be envious of others as they do not find their own personal strengths, but look for the ways to achieve someone else's strengths but will eventually come to no avail. Furthermore, after Beowulf defeats the Nine Sea Monsters, Unferth sits in a corner, described by the author in a dreadful manner, “picking moodily at his boil, glaring at the bright assembled company”(Nye 33). Unferth is envious of all the love that Beowulf is getting and if Unferth had the same strength as Beowulf he would be treated similarly. One can be envious and not think rationally as they long to be like someone but then others the others they know might not follow them and agree with their decisions. The jealousy that is present in Unferth to other would not go by with his other friends so he breaks friendship and rationality eventually falling like a domino
Unferth is loyal to the dark forces believing …show more content…
For instance, describing Unferth’s acts during Aeschere’s death Beowulf narrates, “His wrists weren’t strong enough to lift it down without dropping it and wakening us all. He was a weakling, in more ways than one”(Nye 59). Unferth is characterized as someone who needs mental strength in removing the uncomfortable thoughts in his mind, which Beowulf, in this case, can do. One can be envious of others as they do not find their own personal strengths, but look for the ways to achieve someone else's strengths but will eventually come to no avail. Furthermore, after Beowulf defeats the Nine Sea Monsters, Unferth sits in a corner, described by the author in a dreadful manner, “picking moodily at his boil, glaring at the bright assembled company”(Nye 33). Unferth is envious of all the love that Beowulf is getting and if Unferth had the same strength as Beowulf he would be treated similarly. One can be envious and not think rationally as they long to be like someone but then others the others they know might not follow them and agree with their decisions. The jealousy that is present in Unferth to other would not go by with his other friends so he breaks friendship and rationality eventually falling like a domino