Brent Hardy

World Literature I

Ms. Speer

October 29, 2003

Wolverine and Beowulf: The Hero of Yesterday and Today

            There are many ways that one can be considered a hero, and they have changed over the years. Some things remain the same, though. The definition of hero, per the Collins English Dictionary, is "a man distinguished by exceptional courage, nobility, fortitude, etc." A hero is known for the deeds that he or she has accomplished. Beowulf can most definitely be considered a hero, one of the oldest known, as can Marvel Comics' Wolverine.

            Beowulf and Wolverine share many similarities. First is the superficial similarity in their names. Beowulf most likely translates as "bee wolf," literally "bear," and so both heroes are known by names that depict ferocious animals . They are also both accomplished in battle, Beowulf being the king of the Geats in a time of war and feuds between clans, and Wolverine going from a member of the Armed Forces to a member of the X-Men. Both understand what it means to be a hero, and lend their talents to their respective causes.

            Both Beowulf and Wolverine are loners, and their fighting involves their inclusion into their respective societies. Beowulf must fight and slay Grendel in order to become the true hero-king of his people. Wolverine must fight, or so he feels, in order to truly be a part of the X-Men. While Beowulf, living in a society where acceptance requires heroism and the status of manhood is won only through the slaying of a troll, finds that he is forced into heroism by his status as king, Wolverine is recalcitrant to truly give his all in fear that he will be relied upon too greatly. Thus, he is seen as unreliable out of a deep-seated fear of commitment. This reluctance to commit to a life devoted entirely to being a hero is seen in a number of modern-day heroes, who often worry about what effect it will have on their everyday lives, but this hesitant behavior is absent in the older heroic epics.

            Beowulf takes a sword as his trophy after killing Grendel’s mother. That weapon is used to show his triumph over an enemy and is used willingly. Later, another sword breaks in his battle with the dragon. Even in his death he kills the dragon, thus saving his people. Wolverine, on the other hand, is forced to undergo the Weapon X procedure, grafting his skeleton with the indestructible metal “adamantium” and granting him the retractable claws which are his primary weapons. Even though his weapon will never break, he must give of himself in that he loses many of his true memories and has others implanted. Wolverine gives the nature of himself up for the strength to do what must be done for the continued safety of his fellow mutants. Thus, while Beowulf uses his fighting prowess willingly, for the good of the Geats and the people of Heorot, Wolverine is turned into a living weapon against his will and finds himself pushed into battle without being given the choice of whether or not to fight.

            Beowulf and Wolverine show that the concept of the hero has not undergone significant changes over the centuries. People still look to the one who can lead them through adversity, the one who shows the most courage and presence of mind to efficiently eliminate any enemies that lie between them and peace. Whether real or fictional, a hero is someone to look up to, an archetype that embodies the qualities of strength and goodness in all of humankind.