Beowulf: Argument with Unferth

    According to the previous log, I have talked about the use of writing structure in Beowulf, such as alliterative verse variation, dramatic reversal, and kennings. As I read furthermore, Beowulf is obviously like most of the epic stories, where the main character is always the strongest and most masculine, thus matching the indecisive heroine and the evil monster, but in the first half of the story, of course, some people questioned Beowulf. During the banquet in Heorot, Unferth, the Danish minister who doubted Beowulf's ability, Unferth asked "How could a man who can't win at a swimming contest can kill Grendel ?" Beowulf said that day he and Breca, the god of swimming, were actually evenly matched, mainly because he lost to fight off the sea monster, and retorted that Unferth was famous for killing two brothers who were in bed with his mother. After dealing with Unferth, the king told Beowulf that if he could fight off Gredel, he would give him the golden goblet he had taken from Fafnir.

    In my opinion, I think Unferth is presented in contrast to Beowulf, providing a glimpse of a poor warrior in contrast to Beowulf's good warrior. Unferth is boastful, just as Beowulf is, but unlike Beowulf, Unferth lacks the moral courage to back up his boasts, and he never does anything to stand against Grendel. I believe this is somehow the reason why he also does not like Beowulf, because the bitterness of Unferth's chiding of Beowulf about his swimming match with Breca clearly reflects his jealousy of the attention that Beowulf receives. It probably also stems from his shame at being unable to protect Heorot himself, he is clearly not the sort of great warrior whom legend will remember.

As I read more, surprisingly, Unferth later admits Beowulf's superiority after the defeat of Grendel and lends him a treasured sword, Hrunting, which is for the battle with Grendel's mother. In this part, I have suspect that Unferth's character flaws will surface again, but he has been humbled and I think he has improved for the purposes of this story, and of course, I am gonna save the most exciting part in my next log on how Beowulf defeat Grandel and the attitude toward both parties.