Character Analysis

Beowulf does not provide a direct description of its title character. In film and illustrations, he is usually depicted as being very muscular and having long, blonde hair.Beowulf is exemplifies and embodies all the traits of a hero. He performs great tasks, overcomes seemingly impossible challenges, and ultimately dies as a result of his heroic actions.

Beowulf's courage/bravery is on display when he arrives in Herot and says,"I have suffered extremes/And avenged the Geats (their enemies brought it/Upon themselves, I devastated them)./Now I mean to be a match for Grendel,/Settle the outcome in a single combat"(lines 422-426)

Beowulf's faithfulness and religion are discovered in lines 1270-1274.But Beowulf was mindful of his mighty strength,/The wondrous gifts God had showered on him:/He relied for help on the Lord of All,/On His care and favor. So he overcame the foe,/Brought down the hell-brute.

Beowulf is loyal to King Hrothgar because he once saved his father - evidenced by his arrival to kill the monsters threatening Herot. In lines 456-472 when Hrothgar states,"Hrothgar, the helmet of the Shieldings, spoke: 'Beowulf, my friend, you have traveled here/To favour us with help and fight for us./There was a feud one time, begun by your father. With his own hands he had killed Heatholaf,/Who was a Wulfing; so war was looming/And his people, in fear of it, forced him to leave./He came away then over rolling waves/To the South Danes here, the sons of honor./I was then in the full flush of kingship,/Establishing my sway over all the rich strongholds/Of this heroic land. Heorogar,/My older brother and the better man,/Also a son of Halfdane’s, had died./Finally I healed the feud by paying:/I shipped a treasure-trove to the Wulfings/And Ecgtheow acknowledged me with oaths of allegiance.'"

Beowulf is the protagonist of his story because he defeats the characters that oppose his people. He defeats Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon. Because of this, Beowulf proves himself as the protagonist.

Beowulf is a dynamic character because he changes greatly throughout the story.In the beginning, he is a young, strong, confident warrior."To come here to you, King Hrothgar,/Because all knew of my awesome strength./They had seen me boltered in the blood of enemies/When I battled and bound five beasts,/Raided a troll-nest and in the night-sea/Slaughtered sea-brutes." - (lines 417-422)But as the story nears the end, he has transformed into a wise, old man who has become the king of his people. Although still confident, he is not as strong as his former self."Beowulf spoke, made a formal boast/For the last time: 'I risked my life/Often when I was young. Now I am old,/But as king of this people I shall pursue this fight/For the glory of winning...'" - (lines 2510-2514)

The conflict that surrounds Beowulf is due to external forces. He defeats Grendel, his mother, and the dragon. Unlike many heroes, Beowulf does not struggle with internal flaws like, over-confidence or complacency.

Although there is no explicit physical description of him in the story, Oedipus is usually depicted as a tall, bearded man. Near the end of the story, he is described as having blood dripping from his eyes and into his beard.Oedipus is a hero cursed by fate. He can be described as a blinded character in many different ways. For much of the story he blind to the truth. And when he discovers his truth, he blinds himself because of it.

Oedipus's insight and leadership qualities are shown when he relates to the struggles of his people."You, my children, who lament—I know, for I am not without knowledge,/Of the desire which brings you here. For well do I see/All your sufferings—and though you suffer, it is I/And not one of you that suffers the most./For your pain comes to each of you/By itself, with nothing else, while my psyche/Mourns for myself, for you and the clan." - (lines 59-65)Here, Oedipus shows that he can relate to the struggles of his people.

Oedipus's stubbornness/hubris is on full display when he ignores Jocasta's concern about who he really is. When Jocasta pleads for Oedipus not to seek the truth, He says,"I cannot be persuaded not to learn of this for certain." - (line 1035)

Oedipus shows his confidence and determination when Creon expresses how the people have been scared to face the Sphinx and its riddles. Oedipus confidently says,"Then, as a start, I shall go back to make it visible./It is fitting for Phoebus, and fitting also for you/For the sake of him dead, to return your concern there/And fair that I am seen as an ally/In avenging this land and the god."(lines 133-137)

Oedipus is the protagonist/hero of this tragedy. He fits this title because he makes an error in judgement that ultimately leads to his own destruction.

Oedipus is a dynamic character.Throughout the story, Oedipus shifts from prideful, quick-tempered tendencies and becomes humble and self-aware. He is ultimately taken down by his tragic flaws.In the beginning, Oedipus shows his prideful ways by demanding respect from his people when he says,"I did not deem it fitting, my children, to hear/The report of some messenger—so I come here myself:/I, Oedipus the renowned, who is respected by you all." - (lines 6-8)But near the end, he becomes humble by blinding himself. He says,"For, if I had eyes, I would not know where to look" - (line 1321)

Oedipus's struggle is a result of internal and external forces. Internally, Oedipus is struggling against his own hubris. Externally, he is dealing with the pressure to avenge Laius, as well as the persuasion of his wife/mother, Jocasta.He also struggles against his fate, which could be internal or external. He knows the story of his fate but struggles with it by refusing to accept it. He also deals with his fate externally by fulfilling it.