Beowulf and Batman: A Comparison of Two Heroes
by Izamar Diaz
Heroes and protagonists are often elevated to a high position in the societies they were created because we often put the best characteristics of our society into the hero. We feel proud that such a hero was born of our age because his glorious way of conquering any obstacle is a reflection of how we wish we could conquer our own personal struggles. These heroes live in immortality, as their stories and feats continue to enchant the ears and eyes of eager new listeners and readers. The hero Beowulf in the Danish poem of the same title exemplifies the traditional values that the people of the time valued, offering us an insight into their culture, much like the sort of insight an autobiography would provide. Much like that, the hero Batman from the several American comics, movies and video games exemplifies the sort of values we Westerners have and what we wish all people were like because we value people who take a stand against organized crime and madness. Both Beowulf and Batman share personality traits like courage and fearlessness and they both have an antagonist who opposite to them and what they represent; but despite their similarities they vary in their motive and ultimate goal.
When I say courage I am referring to the Merriam-Webster definition of: Mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear or difficulty. Beowulf first hears of Grendel and immediately knows what must be done. He without debate begins to prepare to make the journey toward the place where Grendel is terrorizing the innocent. That was an act of courage on his behalf because he was aware no other person had been able to help before and he acknowledged that the battle could lead to his demise. Much like that, whenever a cry of help is sent in the form of the Bat signal, Batman rushes to help without asking what the challenge is or the level of danger and difficulty it may involve. Both heroes are no doubt selflessly and fearlessly courageous because they abandon their personal fears and safety to tend to the needs of others.
Everyone has an agenda. We all do different things in hopes of accomplishing different goals. Much like so, our heroes both had drastically different agendas. Beowulf had his reasons for fighting, which I argue were fame. In the modern texts it says “So fame comes to the men who mean to win it and care about nothing else” after he slays the she-wolf and rises from the lake with Grendel’s bloody head in one hand and the sword he has used in the other. He simply wanted fame and recognition. Just by the act of rising like that after battle, it shows he wanted to put on a scene for the men watching. He was aware that Grendel was wicked and that no one before had been able to beat him but he took the challenge regardless. He took the challenge and risked his life for fame, which can be interpreted as he being superficial. Batman on the other hand is opposite to Beowulf in this aspect. While Beowulf wants to be seen for his acts of courage and valor, Batman hides behind a mask and takes on an alter-ego, rather than showing who he really is. Bruce Wayne. Batman also hides in the shadows, wishing to be anonymous and wanting what he does to be about the actions and the stand he takes against crime instead of the man behind the mask.
There is always an opposite to everything. In physics, we have matter and anti-matter. In Beowulf, we have Beowulf and Grendel. In Batman we have Batman and the Joker. During the time Beowulf was written, a lot of parts of Europe were making the transition from paganism to Christianity. Hence for the several allusions made to Christianity in the book, such as “He was spawned in that slime, conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain.” An allusion to a Biblical antagonist is made and Grendel is said to be a descendant of him. Cain was the man who slayed Abel and the Bible’s first murderer. This shows us how bad Grendel was thought of by the Danish people, and how much they must have elevated Beowulf for being the savior. It could be said that Grendel represented the non-believers who at the time were still pagan and were strayed from the path of Christianity and destroyed good men along their path, such as how Grendel killed the good Christian men of Herot. Beowulf is then the opposite of Grendel. Beowulf represents the Christian religion itself and Beowulf slaying the she-wolf and Grendel represents how Christianity was destroying paganism at the time. In Batman, you can also see how the different characters have representations that go beyond the literal and help the stories plot. Batman’s nemesis is the Joker. The Joker is a name that alludes toward humor. However, in an antithetical turn, the Joker is anything but humorous. He kills for the purpose of killing and his sole goal is destruction. In the movie
The Dark Knight he says “Madness as you know it is a lot like gravity, all it takes is a little push.” He goes around giving “little pushes” and driving people toward madness, such as how he turned a lawful man (Harvey Dent) into a psychopath. The Joke is the most pure form of madness and insanity; the Joker does what he does just to see the world burn. In the
Dark Knight, he robs millions of dollars which causes a war between mobs and along the way involves civilians, only to just burn the pile of money later because he believed it was all about sending a message, a message of madness. Batman on the other hand represents order. Batman is a man who was forged in pain by crime when a robbery turned bad ended the life of his parents. He took that bad situation and harnessed it into something positive. Despite his strong hate for all things criminal, he refuses to use weapons and to kill. He has a strong moral code he lives by where he fights crime and protects the innocent. In a mini movie inside a the
Arkham Asylum video game, Batman is running after Joker after he escapes, and in one situation, Joker gives him a free shot to kill him which would prevent him from killing many in his path of destruction but Batman does not allow himself to kill the Joker and instead allows him to continue his destructive path.
Overall, heroes are more than fictional characters. Heroes come to represent a whole culture and can often be said to be a window into the culture they represent. Since their appearance, Beowulf and Batman have been phenomena that have been enjoyed by many because of their intense cultural implications. Beowulf lives into the 21st century after years of oral tradition and finally having been wrote down. Batman is a man admired by many young boys (and girls) who dress up as him and pretend to be him. Beowulf and Batman are two heroes born in different eras, yet with many similarities as well as differences.
.JPG)
