Hrothgar is the aged and successful King of the Danes, who serves as the aid and point of stability for Beowulf’s journey to development. Once a great warrior, Hrothgar has experienced both victory and adversary throughout his life, thus, granting him a more cautious perspective towards the warrior life. Aware of both the privileges and burdens that come with glory, Hrothgar always reminds the ambitious warrior to not let pride cloud his conscience and to act with consideration for the future. Hrothgar’s prospective look at heroism and Beowulf’s reckless impulses demonstrates a striking contrast between youth and maturation, which later becomes the major cause of Beowulf’s downfall. Moreover, although Hrothgar is regarded as a wise and prosperous king, his old age has led to his inability to defend his people from Grendel, and with no heir to depend on; Hrothgar serves also as a representation of a major threat to many tribes, including Beowulf’s clan: a kingless nation. Hence, it can be argued that Hrothgar’s presence not only serves as a reflection and point of stability for Beowulf but also foreshadows the causes that will lead to Beowulf’s collapse in the end.
Hrothgar’s role as an assistant to Beowulf is most evident in his discourse on the fragility of life and the dangers of power after Beowulf successfully defeats Grendel. Hrothgar warns, “Choose, dear Beowulf, the better part,/ eternal rewards. Do not give way to pride./ For a brief while your strength is in bloom/ but it fades quickly.” (Heaney, lines 1759 – 1762). Hrothgar’s experience as King of the Danes has helped him to shed life on the inevitability of death and danger, as he uses it to remind Beowulf to not let glory get in his way; no matter what superhuman strength God may bestow upon him, his downfall will always come to him. After all, Hrothgar emphasizes, no life is immune to death.
Hrothgar’s understanding and fondness of Beowulf alsoallows him to prospect what their future will be like. As Beowulf departs the Danes to return to his country, he shares an emotional farewell with Hrothgar. Although Hrothgar has been depicted as a stoic and serious character so far, in this moment, Hrothgar’s true compassion and gratefulness for Beowulf is illustrated. The author describes, “Two forebodings/ disturbed him in his wisdom, but one was stronger:/ Nevermore would they meet each other/ face to face. And such was his affection/ that he could not help being overcome:/ his fondness for the man was so deep-founded,/ it warmed his heart and wound the heartstrings/ tight in his breast.” (Heaney, lines 1873 – 1880). Hrothgar prospective attitude, once again, has led him to acknowledge that circumstances will not allow them to ever meet again. It could be that Hrothgar would have died of old age, or Beowulf’s responsibilities at his home country. However, this scene also emphasizes the relationship between Beowulf and Hrothgar as brave equals, those who have significantly changed the lives of each other for the better, and those who have earned a deep-founded respect for each other through heroism and leadership.
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Essay on Hrothgar in ‘Beowulf’.
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