Answer below
Explanation:
The concept of a blood feud, or revenge, is that two families have a strong distaste for each other and are engaged in a very long battle. This battle is due to previous murders and the revenge of the previous murders continues on, causing both families to have countless numbers of deaths. Blood feuds are central to ancient Germanic culture and can be seen through the number of feuds represented in Beowulf. These feuds are basically the way of life and death for the Germanic tribes. The author somewhat critiques this concept by describing the gruesome and fatalities blood feuds cause. In a blood feud, no one wins because both sides will have lost many dear friends and family members. The author uses Beowulf’s death as a symbol that all feuds have sealed the fate of the people involved, especially the people that are kings and better warriors. The author implies that feuds are not the solutions, even though they are highly seen in ancient Germanic culture.
The poet represents feuds in Beowulf in a number of ways. There is a feud that is mentioned that has to deal with the Danes. This feud is about Hrothgar’s nephew, Hrothulf, murdering Hrothgar and Wealhtheow’s sons, Hrethric and Hrothmund, to become king of the Danes. The readers know this history but for the characters in Beowulf, this feud is all in the future and they have no knowledge that Hrothulf could ever do such a thing. Hrothgar mentions a blood feud about Beowulf’s father Ecgtheow and how Hrothgar had to give the Wulfings treasure to terminate the feud. Another blood feud is mentioned when the scop sings about a feud between the Danes and the Jutes. Much blood is spilled in this battle, including the many number of Danes and Jutes. Hildeburh loses her brother, son, husband, and home in this blood feud. Another feud is created between Hrothgar’s Danes and Froda’s Heathobards. Near the end of the story, a feud is mentioned between the Geats and the Swedes. Wiglaf expresses his concern to the Geats when Beowulf dies, saying how the Franks, Frisians, and Swedes will invade, and the author lets us know they do actually invade the Geats. To this society, the importance of revenge seems to be to motivate people to fight. Grendel and Grendel’s mother are both motivated by revenge to start killing people: Grendel hates mankind and the life he has lived, while Grendel’s mother’s anger is directed towards the Danes because of Grendel’s death. Revenge really drives each blood food within Beowulf and influences the characters. While the dragon at the end of the story is seeking revenge on a theif, Beowulf seeks revenge and takes his anger out on the dragon, ultimately leading to his death.
