“Different Nonetheless Heroes ”
The
hero should not be give a time period, so long as they were heroes once, they
will be heroes forever. The man who leaves his life behind to protect the life
of another is a hero. Beowulf earned his title as a hero because he fought for
his people. Soldiers help maintain our freedom and peace. They are our modern
heroes.
The
soldier symbolizes the ongoing peace and freedom that many countries are able
to practice each day. The soldier is able to voluntarily enlist. He/She does
not seek to alter their ego, but simply to keep our everyday practices alive. Like
Beowulf and his “…mightiest…bravest and best…” men, Soldiers fight in troops.
They are not afraid of protecting the people for they are highly trained to do
what they do. On the other hand Beowulf symbolizes the Danish communities and
how they lived. He was all they had to capture their time.
Beowulf
and the soldier are similar characters in that they willingly fight for what is
right while protecting others. The irony that ties these heroes together is the
fact that both may be accused of having a sense of bravado to them. In Beowulf
it is the characters and the readers that are debating whether or not he is
cocky or simply confident. That debating specially came up when Beowulf decided
to fight the monster without armor. As for a soldier there are often times
where people address that some soldiers are cocky. Is it confidence? Did all
their victories go too deep into their heads? It is safe to assume that Beowulf
was willing to fight not only because he wanted to protect the people, but also
because he had a name to live up to. His father was the great and respected
King so we (the readers) know that some influence came from that alone. Many
times it occurs that if someone in the family has served or is serving in the
military there is a desire or expectation to do the same, to follow the
tradition.
Despite
the time and era difference between Beowulf and a soldier they are both heroes.
They are heroes of different times, Beowulf orally told in the years of 500 to
1100. On the other hand the soldier is well known and traced many battles and
wars back. Many traits unite these familiar characters, but one unites them and
that is the will to fight and protect their people.
