Beowulf and Iron Man

Beowulf vs. Iron Man: A Clash of Ancient and Modern Heroes

“Strength does not come from physical capacity.  It comes from an indomitable will.”  Modern and classical heroes are normally classified as “strong” but isn’t there more to this stereotypical classification?  Calling Iron Man strong doesn’t truly mean that he himself is strong but rather his suit is strong.  Calling Beowulf strong is true in the sense that he does have an excessive amount of strength but he also exceedingly mentally strong.  Strength is more than physical capacity but mental capacity as well. These heroes push themselves differently in order to succeed in their journey.  While Beowulf fought and outsmarted monsters and dragons, Ironman created new technology to fight off his foes.  Beowulf and Iron Man both have character traits that reflect their culture’s values.

Heroes face parlous journeys in order to fulfill their quest in life.  Beowulf crosses many bodies of water in order to fight off sea monsters, slay Grendel’s mother, and cross over to Hrothgar’s kingdom.  The bodies of water in his quest are a reoccurring theme in Scandinavian literature since they were crossing them in order to conquer and pillage cities and countries.  They symbolize the battleground in which a brave warrior of that time would fight in, just as Beowulf did.  Tony Stark, however, fought most of his battles in the sky with his suit.  Today, we see air warfare as a normal battleground as we have jets and missiles flying through the sky.  Although they were great heroes, they did have some kind of hype or a buildup of their accomplishments.  Iron Man was extremely wealthy and had the greatest technology available to the world.  He was on top for so long that he did eventually fall because he became complacent with his status.  Tony Stark was this hyperbole of a celebrity.  He was a celebrity in his world much like Beowulf was.  Beowulf fights Grendel “not with the sword” but “unweaponed, for war.” Fighting this powerful monster with your bare hands definatly builds your legacy and Beowulf talked about his accomplishments like a proud warrior would, which impressed many people.  Hrothgar boasts of Beowulf’s determination and his boldness in battle that he says "Never to any man erst I trusted,
since I could heave up hand and shield,
this noble Dane-Hall, till now to thee.
Have now and hold this house unpeered;
remember thy glory; thy might declare;
watch for the foe! No wish shall fail thee
if thou bidest the battle with bold-won life.” 

Sometimes, the foes of the heroes give clues as to a culture’s moral values as well.  Grendel is an offspring of Cain, an allusion to the biblical story of the blackened son of Noah.  Grendel is a pagan-like monster but is a son of Cain, which shows the culture making the transition from a pagan society to Christian society.  Grendel’s mother “gloomy and grim, would go that quest
of sorrow, the death of her son to avenge.”  This shows that loyalty was in turn also a major value the Scandinavians had. In today’s society, we value people who can be loyal rather than people who are traitors just like the Scandinavians did.  For example, Tony Stark’s enemy, Obadiah Stone, betrayed him when he sold weapons to terrorist groups that the U.S. was fighting against which caused Iron Man to take responsibility and fight his once second in command at his company.

Whether heroes are modern or ancient, they both display similar characteristics.  Heroes are brave in battle, wherever it may be whether in the air or sea.  They are loyal to people who are faithful to them and their cause.  Their legends grow as they face more and more obstacles or monsters.  Beowulf may be an ancient Scandinavian hero, but he still possesses the strength of heart, body, and soul, that many of our modern day heroes possess as well, like Iron Man.