Beowulf vs. Modern Society :: Epic of Beowulf Essays

Beowulf vs. Modern Society Are there any(prenominal) similarities in the midst of life in modern America and the world of Beowulf? Is it possible for such a technology oriented world such as ours to have anything in common with a world which had not even heard of electricity? Has this technology really separated us from prior civilizations? Is our thinking forthwith any different from the thinking of ancient cultures? Although it may not seem to be true, there are actually many similarities between our world and that of Beowulfs. These similarities are promptly seen in all forms of media and entertainment, as well as noted sources of culture such as music and movies. If the similarity between the two cultures is accepted, it will not be hard to comprehend Beowulf. The first and most notable similarity is drinking. King Hrothgar built a giant mead-hall, namely Heorot, to accommodate his celebrations. Throughout Beowulf it displace be seen that celebrations of any kind are a lways accompanied by drinking. Drinking is just present today as it was thousands of years ago. People today always include drinking in their celebrations, whether it be a birthday, anniversary, or marriage. Heorot is nothing more than a tremendous bar. The festivities of the warriors in Beowulfs time potbelly be seen every night in any local bar or pub. Another similarity of course is power. Violence is obviously present in Beowulfs world. The determinant of status holds its roots in violence. The only way for a warrior to prove himself is with battle, or violence. Specifically this can be seen through the character, Unferth. He was not respected as a warrior due to his inability to win battles. He tried to find faults in Beowulf to raise his own ego. The offensive activity given to this man was due to his unsuccessfulness in violent engagements. Modern violence is present all around us. No matter which way one turns, violence will be there to greet him. Whether it be on the street, in school, or even at home, violence cannot be avoided. The presence of this violence in society leads to stress. This stress is to a large extent the cause of the similarity mentioned earlier, namely drinking. Anyone from the local bully to a armed robber can be representatives of modern violence. Although it is present in everyday life, this violence can be seen easier in any form of media.