Resumo de Beowulf

Playing by the Rules: an Examination of the ?Game? of Gift-Giving in Beowulf : The concept of gift-giving is crucial to the understanding of the motives surrounding actions in the poem Beowulf. Indeed, it can be compared to a game with very strict rules, very much like the intangible, unspoken rules that are inherent to any society. The object of this game is to manipulate these rules to the player?s best advantage, but as the central theme of the poem reveals, this game fails with drastic consequences when certain players do not abide by these rules. In the prologue of Beowulf, as the backdrop to the poem unfolds, the importance of gift-giving is immediately introduced, reminding the audience that ?a young prince must?give freely?so that afterward in age when fighting starts steadfast companions will stand by him and hold the line? (23). Already the ground rules of the complex game of gift-giving is established, describing the route to success in this society by utilizing the obligatory give and take so that a King will have aid in times of need. However, although there is an ?obligation to return the gift, [it is not] necessarily right away or in equal kind? (Mauss, 92). This adds much flexibility to the system, allowing individuals to choose how to repay their debt and in what form. The application of this rule is embodied within Beowulf, who comes to offer his services as a repayment of his father?s debt owed to Hrothgar. This repayment occurs much, much later than the time when ?Ecgtheow acknowledged [Hrothgar] with oaths of allegiance? for helping him settle the feud with the Wulfings, in fact, it does not even take place during Ecgtheow?s lifetime. This truly demonstrates the iron clad nature of such an obligation, even passing onto one's offspring, never ceasing to exist until it is fully repaid. In all the previous instances, the players of this delicate game have all abided by the intricate web of unspoken, yet ever present rules, and thus reaped their benefits. Indeed, because Beowulf ?bore himself was valor?yet behaved with honor and took no advantage? (2178-80), choosing to pass along all the gifts that he received from Hrothgar to King Hygelac, he was rewarded beyond measure. This, in some ways, can also be seen as a form of obligation, because King Hygelac is his own Lord, thus according to Mauss? theory, the hau of any taonga that Beowulf receives from Hygelaic constrains him to pass along any taonga he receives from others (Mauss, 8). However, there is no actual physical law that forces Beowulf to act in this way; he is praised because he ?respect[s] tradition? (1701) and chooses to abide by these rules. Various examples are given in Beowulf of characters who choose to break the rules of gift-giving, often with dire consequences. As the economy of gift-giving provides the threads that hold together the fabric of society, it is as if they are revolting against the very community that they live in. The best example of a character that does not follow the rules is Grendel. A monster born on the fringes of society, he has absolutely no understanding of the delicate balance of the gift-economy and instead ?ruled in defiance of right? (144). If a certain lord or clan had started such a feud with Hrothgar, he could have fought back, and the cycle of death would have eventually ended with a payment for the lives lost. However, this is impossible with Grendel, who started this ?long and unrelenting feud [but will] never parley or make peace with any Dane nor stop his death-dealing nor pay the death-price? (153-556). Facing this completely defiance, Hrothgar is ?stricken and helpless?bewildered and stunned? (130-32), completely at a loss as to how to act. This is how the system of gift-giving fails, just as it is impossible to play a game with a participant who refuses to follow any of the rules, so entire system grinds to a halt. The greatest failure of thigame of gift-giving occurs at the end of the poem, as Beowulf takes on his last battle with the dragon. Although he was described as the best of lords, willingly sacrificing himself as ?king of the people [to] pursue the fight? (2514), he does not have the full allegiance of his men during a time of such great need. The maxim given at the beginning of the poem, that if ?a young prince gives freely while his father lives?afterward when fighting starts steadfast companions will stand by him and hold the line? (20-23), tragically proves false. Instead of running to their lord?s assistance, ?that hand-picked troop broke ranks and ran for their lives to the safety of the wood? (2597-99), failing to accomplish their one duty as receiver of gifts and rings ? to serve and aid their lord with their lives. Once again, the rules of the game are thus broken, and the system of gift-giving fails to procure the desired results. Ultimately, the system of gift-giving operates in every way like a game with intricate rules, which can often be manipulated to a player?s advantage. However, when this delicate balance of utilizing the system to one?s own benefit is disrupted, and a player blatantly disregards the rules, havoc ensues, often with dire results.

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