The Theme of Identity in Beowulf

In "Beowulf", the central theme of one's identity is tightly woven into the plot and the characters. The setting of the story and its time period characterize an individual's identity as a string of lineage, with the individual judged in society by the reputation of his ancestors. Each character, from Beowulf to Grendel, is presented as a seed of a past figure whose reputation often correlates to the character's place in society. For example, Beowulf stands as a noble warrior and revered being who has come from a great line of Geat royalty, which automatically attributes him an admirable reputation, whether he had performed great deeds or not. The warriors and kings in the story cherish their reputations as the most key to their success, often sacrificing themselves in heroic deeds to further advance their name and heritage beyond the generations.

Moreover, the characters' identities form lines of kinship and alliance rare in today's society. Similarly to Beowulf's case, foreign warriors may visit other continents and kings, but their name serves as a means of recognition and negotiation. Despite the fact that the Danish king has never seen the adult Beowulf, he recognizes Beowulf's line by the name of his uncle and treats him like his own brother. Members of the old society seemed to have trusted bloodlines as indicators of trust; the Danish king did not know what Beowulf's true intentions may be, but did not hesitate to let the warrior into his kingdom upon hearing of his name and the greatness of his family.

On the other hand, unsuccessful or evil ancestors may doom a being into banishment because of his filthy bloodline, despite any actions that the individual may take. For example, the narrator presents Grendel, a descendant of Cain, as an evil, terrible, bloodthirsty being from the start of the poem. Even though the description is true, it is entirely possible that a noble being may come from a line of poor, unsuccessful peasants. In such a case, the individual's name will stand as the obstacle to success, as people would pay little attention to a member of a simply family with no history of fame, great deeds, or riches.

The theme of identity explores the way bloodlines and heritage change the views of all people. In today's society, the same may stand, as people often judge others by the families which reared them. Unlike those in the Middle Ages, however, people today view reputation as an individual quest based on individual actions, not family history and fame.