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Essay / Loyalty to family and marital relationships in Anglo-Saxon literature
Table of contentsMarital relationship in The Wife's LamentLoyalty to family in BeowulfConclusionWorks citedThe story of "The Wife's Lament", the author of which is currently unknown , tells a story of a husband and wife enjoying a strong and timeless marital relationship based on romance and lifelong commitment, until death do them part. Similarly, in the epic poem “Beowulf,” by another anonymous author, the characters' relationships with their families are deeply considered and prioritized. The family relationships in "Beowulf" and the relationship of the married couple in "The Wife's Lament" both show how people are very attached to their marriages and show loyalty to their families during this period, analyzed in this essay. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"?Get the original essayMarital Relationship in The Wife's LamentRomance is a big part of "The Wife's Lament," and it manifests itself when the wife surrenders realizes that her husband is gone. , she “never succeeded in assuaging the cares of her aching mind” (38-39). She remembers swearing “that nothing would ever divide them” (21-22). The husband and wife loved each other deeply and were both deeply devoted to their relationship. This proves that their relationship is based on romance rather than other heartless factors. By the way, the husband misses and wants to be with his wife. Although his wife does not know where he is, she knows that he “remembers a happier home” (49). Despite the husband's vendetta, the wife's uncertainty about whether she will ever be able to see her husband again, and the fact that he might just leave and his wife could never find him again, the wife remains faithful and knows, no doubt her husband would rather be at home with her. Loyalty to Family in Beowulf This theme of loyalty to family goes back to the very beginning of Beowulf. When King Hrothgar refers to his meeting, he says that Beowulf is "here to continue an old friendship" (376). Although not directly stated, it is implied that Hrothgar helped King Ecgtheow in the past and that King Ecgtheow's family owed a great debt to King Hrothgar's family because of this. Beowulf came all the way to Denmark and risked his life many times just to stay loyal to his family and repay his debt to King Hrothgar. Another aspect of this theme of loyalty to family comes into play later in the epic poem when Hrothgar recounts his past encounters with Beowulf. He says that the king of another clan, "Hrethel the Great, gave Ecgtheow his daughter in marriage" (374-375). She ended up becoming Beowulf's mother. However, when it comes to loyalty, this intermarriage is a prime example of how loyalty to family can be used for political purposes. Because Hrethel the Great's daughter married into the Ecgtheow family, that family is likely to become allied with Hrethel's family rather than attacking them or causing harm to the family. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.Get a custom essayConclusionIn the Anglo-Saxon era, loyalty to family was not just a theme, but a powerful trait of humans as a whole. In "The Wife's Lament", because of their shared romantic love, the wife was faithful to her husband. In “Beowulf,” family members remained so loyal that this idea of loyalty was used to strengthen relationships between families. Loyalty is a, 2006.