Kailyn Showers
Ms. Roney
English 12
2 February 2018
Beowulf
The quest for revenge has been in battle stories for centuries. This has been displayed through the hero and the villain. In the poem, Beowulf, the quest for revenge and its consequences is shown through Grendel’s mother, the dragon, and Beowulf.
The sole purpose and motivation behind Grendel’s mother attacks was Grendel’s death at the hands of Beowulf. “Goes to Herot to avenge her son’s death. She kills Hrothgar's closest friend, receives Grendel’s arm from the rafters where Beowulf had hung it and returns to her lake.”(Beowulf 420) Here Grendel’s mother shows the purest form of revenge out of all of the enemies in Beowulf. She was never seen before Grendel’s death and she attacked out of the pain of her son's death. Her desire for revenge is achieved but at a cost. “Her body fell to the floor, lifeless, the sword was wet with her blood.”(Beowulf 495) Following her revenge we see Beowulf pursuing her. And as a consequence, she was killed. In conclusion, Grendel’s mother did complete her quest for revenge, but we can see how revenge can lead to one’s end.
The second form of revenge displayed in Beowulf is the dragon’s revenge for his treasures. “The beast went back to its treasure, planning a bloody revenge, and found what was missing, saw what thieving hands had stollen....glowing with rage it left the tower, impatient to repay its enemies.”(Beowulf 679) The dragon’s revenge is selfish compared to Grendel's mother revenge. When the dragon notices that some of his treasure has been stolen he reacts through destroying the village, and when Beowulf hears of this he decided to come help his people. “The Geats deserved revenge, Beowulf, began to plan it......and Beowulf drew...
