“Vengeance & feud were an integral part in medieval England and Iceland. Retribution was both a right & a obligation and was legislated. Social norms regulated it. It was a powerful tool to obtain justice and protect property, family, reputation, and assets. Many medieval literary works accept the idea of revenge. Beowulf is an example of such medieval literary works. Beowulf’s heroic tale continues to be told despite the negative consequences of his revenge. Many characters are motivated by revenge. Through feuds among the Germanic tribals. The epic poem Beowulf depicts the idea of vengeance through King Hrothgar’s mother Grendel, the fiery beast, and even Beowulf. Revengeance can be both necessary and very destructive.
In the poem, a number of characters mention that Vengeance was an integral part of Anglo Saxon society. The first time Grendel was killed, the anonymous poet spoke of “revengeance”. Grendel is killed when Beowulf breaks Grendel’s arm. Then he dies from blood loss. Beowulf seeks revenge on King Hrothgar to get revenge for Grendel’s death. “But now, his mother / had set out on a savage voyage, / grievous and hungry, seeking revenge.” Grendel’s mother also wants revenge for her son’s death. Hrothgar’s trusty advisor, Aeschere, is attacked by Grendel and killed by Heorot. Beowulf tells Hrothgar that Aeschere has died, and he is clearest about the morality behind revenge. It’s always better / To avenge close ones than it is to spend time in mourning. Beowulf has made it his mission to kill Aeschere and King Hrothgar. He goes to Grendel’s mother’s mere and kills them. Grendel’s mother’s actions seem more justified than Beowulf when compared to Beowulf’s. Beowulf’s last battle against the dragon is her final battle. It’s also the result to vengeance. The dragon seeks to exact revenge on the unnamed theftist who has taken a goblet out of the dragon’s treasure hoard. Beowulf’s residence is destroyed and the countryside is attacked by the dragon. In his old age, Beowulf decides to take revenge. He said, “The fire dragon / had destroyed the coastal region and reduced/ forts, earthworks, and so on, and the war-king plotted and planned his revenge”. These examples are representative of the medieval treatment of vengeance. It is not only necessary to protect your family’s reputation and property, but it can also be extremely destructive. It resulted in the assassination of all those who sought revenge.
The poet also mentions the fact that vengeance was a driving factor in many feuds. It is a way to live and die for Anglo-Saxon culture. Blood feuds can be described as a cycle that involves fighting between two distinct tribes. Beowulf’s fights relate to Finnsburh. Beowulf discusses the conflict among the Frisians (Danes) Grendel, a descendant of the Biblical Cain, is the Frisians’ representative in Beowulf. Also, the battle between Grendel and Grendel’s mother represents the blood feud among the Germanic tribes. Rosenthal claims that the role of women in heroic societies is one example of a feudhealer or peace weaver. He says:
A woman’s most important role was that of marriage.
the ability to act as a feud-healer/alliance-binder. This is how marriage can be used
either to end an open-blood feud or to build an alliance that will prevent it.
Future feuds were a sensible and obvious policy. Ironic!
Ends of marriage are often not realized, at least according to literature.
Women were almost made to be sacrificed for good and evil in the days of old.
intentions.
Hildeburh was a woman who married a member from an enemy tribe to make peace between the fighting groups. Beowulf’s Hildeburh/Freawaru stories show the negative effects of women who are made peace-weavers. Hildeburh marries a man from another tribe and bears a child with him. This combines the bloodlines of the Jutes as well as the Danish. This union was not to last as she witnessed her brother and son being killed in a battle between Jutes and Danish soldiers. Freawaru’s marriage to Ingeld did not end well, unlike Hildeburh. Ingeld’s fight with Freawaru’s husband and father ended in a bad manner. These examples prove that using marriage as an instrument to make peace with fighting tribes did not produce the desired results for resolving the Germanic conflict.
The Anglo-Saxon culture values vengeance as a motivational factor. Beowulf’s vengeance, as well as many other characters in this poem, emphasizes the importance to honor the bonds of friendship and family relationships.
