Milton 1

Scott A. Milton

English XXX

Professor XXX

October 20, 2010

To Be, or Not to Be (a Hero, That Is)

“Only the actions of the just

Smell sweet, and blossom in their dust.”

--James Shirley (Oxford 507)

What defines heroism? Is it bravery on the battlefield or taking on tyranny and injustice?

Some might suggest that heroism entails having the courage to stand up for what is right in the

face of danger, while others might argue that it embodies actions such as defending the weak and

oppressed; helping the needy; or protecting the innocent. And while admirable physical

characteristics and personality traits typify most conceptions of a hero, these alone are not

enough. After all, one cannot become a true hero because of appearance or character alone, but

rather it is by virtue of good deeds that one earns such status. With regard to literature, characters

are often considered heroes simply because they are the main characters, or protagonists, of their

stories. Perhaps it is more insightful, however, to suggest that such characters are heroes because

their qualities and behaviors are admirable to readers. Two well known protagonists from major

works of English literature are Beowulf and Hamlet. While the characteristics and behavior of

these two figures have much in common, the differences are nonetheless substantial and make

Beowulf a superior hero.

Both protagonists are charismatic public figures revered by their people. Beowulf

achieves great renown for his glorious deeds (lines 953, 1220), which are praised again and again

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(855). In Hamlet’s case, one of the reasons Claudius cannot act outright against him is “the great

love the general gender bear him” (Act IV, Scene vii, Line 17). On the other hand, Beowulf and

Hamlet are completely different types of heroes. The former is a man of great physical

prowess—the mightiest man alive—having “the strength of thirty [men] in each hand” (lines

196, 380). He depends on this great might to overpower his opponents. This is illustrated by his

fight with Grendel, in which the hero grapples the monster and literally tears off its shoulder and

arm with his bare hands (lines 745-835). Hamlet, by contrast, is a man of wit and reasoned

reflection. He is described as being overweight and out of shape (V, ii, 291), and he relies on

cunning to outsmart his adversaries and achieve victory. These differences are important because

they influence the way the two protagonists behave in response to their circumstances.

Although alike in certain respects, the behavior of these two heroes is often as dissimilar

as they are themselves. While both face formidable challenges and seek to defeat their

adversaries through violent means, Beowulf resides in a world of monsters and meets them head-

on in battle. He fights and slays a terrible dragon, but at the cost of his own life (lines 2705,

2819). Similarly, Hamlet finds himself in a dangerous setting, albeit a complicated world of

political intrigue. He too faces a powerful “monster” in his uncle and king, Claudius, and dies as

a result of his confrontation (V, ii, 362). It is worth noting, however, that Beowulf acts with

fairness and honor in his contests. He renounces the use of weapons and armor against Grendel,

since the monster doesn’t use them (lines 435-9). As mighty as Beowulf is, he just doesn’t need

them to prevail. By contrast, Hamlet’s deceptive behavior seems decidedly anti-heroic. He feigns

insanity, puts on an “antic disposition” to hide his intentions, and waits for the opportune time to

strike (I, iv, 172). This underhanded behavior, however, may be justified in Hamlet’s situation.

Given the fact that Hamlet’s uncle is king and could have him executed for treason, such artifice

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is arguably the only way to stay ahead of his opponent and triumph. On the other hand, Hamlet’s

killing of Polonius is careless (III, iv, 23-31), and he shows no remorse for causing the death of

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (V, ii, 58). This behavior calls his moral judgment into question.

Clearly then, these factors reveal two very different conceptions of heroism and

demonstrate that Beowulf is the more ideal hero. In part, the nature of these characters’

differences can be explained in the context of literary genre. Beowulf is an idealized hero

precisely because he exists in the world of an epic—a world that calls for larger than life

characters and superhuman feats. Hamlet, on the other hand, lives in the world of a tragedy, the

conventions of which allow for a protagonist with discernable flaws. More important, these two

works were written in different historical periods, and literature typically embodies the values of

the society that produces it. Heroism in Shakespeare’s day was more complicated than in the era

of Beowulf’s poet. Attitudes had changed so that revenge, an action once considered a duty, was

no longer permitted. Thus, while the work of Beowulf’s poet depicts vengeance as proper and

noble conduct, Shakespeare’s Hamlet is decidedly an anti-revenge play that conveys a strong

social message against such action. Each historical era has a distinct vision of heroism. If

Beowulf and Hamlet were written today, their heroes would almost certainly reflect the values

and interests of the modern world.

©2010 Scott A. Milton – All Rights Reserved

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Works Cited

Greenblatt, Stephen, ed. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Vol. A. New York:

Norton, 2006. Print.

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Sidney Lamb. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2000. Print.

Oxford University Press. The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford

University Press, 1980. Print.

©2010 Scott A. Milton – All Rights Reserved