The Wanderer and the Seafarer free essay sample

The Seafarer, and the Wanderer accurately reflect the values and ideals of Anglo-Saxon society by illustrating what happens when the chain of loyalty is broken, when a society is without a lord, and the conflict of Christianity and paganism. Out of the four values most important to the Anglo-Saxons, loyalty was the most important; when men are no longer loyal to their lord their society collapses. Loyalty formed the backbone of Anglo-Saxon society and was the only way in which law and order could be maintained and people protected. Loyalty was also the only way through which men acquired wealth and fame. When a mans oath of loyalty is broken, it is a betrayal to the highest value of the society. This is clearly illustrated in Beowulf. When Beowulf goes to fight the Dragon none of his chosen warriors will help him, except Wiglaf, A beaten warrior. None of his comrades Came to him, helped him, his brave and noble followers; they ran for their lives, fled Deep in a wood (746-749). We will write a custom essay sample on The Wanderer and the Seafarer or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This contrasts starkly to the beginning of the epic where Beowulfs followers and eager to help him fight Grendel. The mens gradual loss of loyalty signifies their societys impending collapse. After Beowulfs death they bury the dragons great treasure with him. Although the Geats have a brave and noble leader in Wiglaf, he can no longer be confident in his mens loyalty, breaking the backbone of their society. The lord was the most important figure in Anglo-Saxon society. The lord gave rings, laws, and protection to his people. When a society is without its lord, nothing good is possible. As seen in the Seafarer and the Wanderer, when a man loses his lord he wanders around helplessly, doomed to a life of weary exile. The Wanderer sails looking for a new gold lord but, When friends are no more, his fortune is exile. 27). The Seafarer is in self exile to the seas as, The days are gone when the kingdoms of earth flourish in Glory: Now there are no rulers, no emperors, No givers as gold as once there were. (81-83). There are differences between the lives of the Seafarer and the Wanderer. The Wanderer seeks a new gold lord while the Seafarer chooses the harsh life of the sea over living in a land where society where, Those powers have vanished, those pleasures are dead. The weakest survives and the world continues. Kept spinning by its toil. All glory is tarnished. The worlds honor ages and shrinks. (86-89). The Wanderers weary search for a new lord reflects what happens to society as a whole when their lord dies. They are lost and troubled without a leader and his presence is fundamental to Anglo-Saxon society, without him they would be doomed to the life of the Wanderer. The constant conflict between the Pagan religions and Christianity is revealed throughout early Anglo-Saxon literature. In the Anglo-Saxon era, the only centers of the written word were the monasteries, thus the objectivity regarding religious matters was often tilted in Christianitys favor when Beowulf, the Seafarer, and the Wanderer were recorded. However, the underlying themes of Christianity against paganism can be seen in Beowulf. When the monster Grendel continues to attack and destroy Herot, there is one thing he cannot touch, Hrothgars throne which is protected by God. However, in their desperation Hrothgars men, sometimes they sacrificed to the old stone Gods, Made Heathen vows, hoping for Hells support, the Devils guidance in driving their affliction off. That was their way and the Heathens only hope. (90-94). This comparison of the Pagan religion to asking for Hells support suggests that Grendel was sent by God to punish the Danes for their heathenism. The Seafarer is a poem in which the objectivity has again been tilted in Christianitys favor by the monks of Anglo-Saxon England. Although the heart of the poem contains no references at all to God, the introduction and conclusion to the Poem contains hopeful images of God helping the wander as it says, Oft to the Wanderer, weary of exile, Cometh Gods pity, compassionate love(1-2). This hopeful, lighter mood contrasts starkly to the elegiac mood of the rest of the poem. This clearly shows some monks addition to the poem. The Seafarer is a much more about Christianity than the first two, and it mentions God several times throughout the poem, this most likely signifies it was written later than Beowulf or the Wanderer and symbolizes Christianitys eventual defeat of paganism in Anglo-Saxon England. Anglo-Saxon society was built upon the values of loyalty, led by their lords, and conflicted in religion. Loyalty was the single most important aspect of Anglo-Saxon society and the breakdown in mens loyalty would inevitably lead to the collapse of their society. The lord was the absolute leader of any Anglo-Saxon society, he gave law and order, rings, and protection to his followers, when he died a new leader must be found or society will break down, like the society of the Wanderer. The Anglo-Saxons were a pagan people and the conflict between their paganism and Christianity is an underlying theme in Beowulf and the Wanderer and reflects the religious turmoil of their society. Through the illustration of these values and conflicts Beowulf, the Wander, and the Seafarer accurately reflect Anglo-Saxon society