Beowulf and Roland - Essay Example

Roland is a hero who dies in defense of his people. Both Beowulf and Roland share the idea of struggling to save humanity. This is shown when Beowulffights the dragon with one soldier. Roland shows this when he fights the Saracens without calling Charlemagne back until their defeat. The idea of struggling to save humanity is second nature to both Roland and Beowulf due to the continuous fighting that occurred in their lifetime. Roland’s battle was for Charlemagne against the Muslims, whereas Beowulf’s was against Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. Roland and Beowulf both wanted to struggle to save humanity. Roland, as a warrior for Charlemagne, believed that the Muslims were working against God. The Christian God dominated the story of The Song of Roland. Humanity for Roland was united under the Christian God. Borey (2001) suggests “ The spirit is very much that of the Crusades, a period in which the Catholic Church had become strong and ambitious enough to mount a series of determined campaigns in the Holy Land.” For humanity to exist in The Last Song of Roland it must be united under a Christian ruler. Humanity needed Jesus Christ. This theory is shown after Roland dies. At the end of the story, the Muslim queen is baptized a Christian. There they baptised the Queen of Sarazands, And found for her the name of Juliane. Christian is she by very cognisance. (Goldin 1978) Roland’s goal was to struggle to the death to unite all humanity under the Christian God. Beowulf also wanted to struggle to unite humanity. Although this story does not have as much Christianity, Beowulf felt the need to unite humanity. Although not his fight, Beowulf leaves his kingdom to fight for Heorot. One point of view is: Beowulf stands up as protector of something much deeper than the mere surface expectations of the reader for bravery and honor; he passionately fights to protect the deep solidarity that Heorot represents for humanity. Viewing Grendel’s assault on this human solidarity, we must conclude that the value of the hall regarding international relations and the power of the human spirit is that for which Beowulf must so ardently fight. (Young 2006) The monster attacking Heorot was trying to divide humanity. The hall was where soldiers, their wives, and probably children held banquets, slept in for protection, and lived in as a home. The story confirms this belief: They were easy to find who elsewhere sought in room remote their rest at night, bed in the bowers, when that bale was shown, was seen in sooth, with surest token, -- the hall-thanes hate. Such held themselves far and fast who the fiend outran! (Swanton 1997) When Grendel attacked the hall, the inhabitants scattered. In order to be safe from Grendel, the soldiers and their families split up to find refuge anywhere. This would eventually destroy humanity. Without a social circle, humanity might have even died out due to lack of contact. While many soldiers run away in both stories, both Roland and Beowulf want to fight for their fellow humans. These two did not run way. Their bravery led to their deaths, but it was a characteristic both men possessed. For example: The count Rollanz, when their approach he sees Is grown so bold and manifest and fierce So long as hes alive he will not yield. (Goldin 1978) Roland was not going to let the Muslims take over his territory without a fight. If the Muslims would have won, as seen in the Ottoman Empire, Christianity would suffer. Roland did not want his religion to be trampled by the Muslims. So there was no other choice than to fight the Muslims, despite the fact Roland’s regiment was outnumbered. Roland fought for his ideals of humanity. Beowulf did the exact same thing. He fought for what he believed in. The battle with the dragon was done with only one soldier. I HAVE heard that swiftly the son of Weohstan at wish and word of his wounded king, -- (Goldin 1978) Beowulf did not steal the dragon’s gold cup. Still Beowulf went to fight for his people. He could have sent soldiers, since by this time he was king. The reason he went to fight the dragon was his belief that people need to struggle to maintain humanity. If everyone passed the duty on to someone else, no one would fight and the evil would win. Both Roland and Beowulf wanted to protect their way of lives. Roland’s life revolved around being a soldier in Charlemagne’s army. By fighting for Christianity, Roland would be granted eternal life in heaven. Borey (2001) explains: Warriors who fought for the Holy Land would receive full penance. Archbishop Turpin, the fierce warrior-priest of the poem, reflects this new mentality. He blesses and gives penance to the Franks wholesale before the battle, and promises all that paradise awaits them. Roland was fighting for the life of a soldier for the Christian God. If the Muslims beat Charlemagne’s army, Roland’s life would be over. Not just his human life, but his eternal life as well. God might not forgive and let into heaven a warrior that failed his wishes. Beowulf wanted to fight for his life style as well. His life revolved around medieval England. The reason Beowulf took on Grendel was he threatened Beowulf’s way of life. Young (2006) asserts: the hall stood empty and the wallstead which bore the countless marks of laborers from all over the world stood in shambles. We now see Grendel’s purpose in assaulting the famed hall: to bring emptiness where there was once fullness and to divide what was once united. The emptiness of the hall is a sad contrast to the rejoicing and fellowship that took place the night before, and the high walls that once proudly bore the names of all of the nations no longer stand. (Young 2006) Beowulf did not want his nation to become one of the nations that no longer stood. Thus he had to fight and beat Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. If he did not fight them and win, Beowulf knew part of his lifestyle would be destroyed. Roland and Beowulf both fought and struggled against the evil in their worlds. Whether a marauding Muslim or a dragon, both men would do anything to fight for their lifestyles. Humanity could be interchanged with lifestyles. The humanity that Roland and Beowulf fought for was uniquely theirs. Roland was a Christian soldier for Charlemagne. Beowulf was a king in England. Although their humanity was different, both felt the need to struggle to protect it. No every individual coming into contact with Roland and Beowulf thought humanity was worth fighting for. That is what made Roland and Beowulf heroes of their stories. Both men felt the need to struggle and fight for humanity. The trait of struggling for humanity is what separates Roland and Beowulf from other men of their time. Bibliography Borey, E. (2001). Classic notes on The Song of Roland. Classicnote. Online. Goldin, F. (1978). The Song of Roland. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. Print. Swanton, M. ed. (1997). Beowulf. UK: Manchester University Press. Print. Young, D. (2006). A critical analysis of Beowulf. associatedcontent. Online. Read More