Thoughts That Bite

Beowulf: A Battle against Pride

The dark, sexy and playful style of Neil Gaiman’s writing, plus the skills of the award-winning screenwriter Roger Avary plus the breath-taking and grand directorship of Robert
Zemeckis plus the cast of the most well-sought actors plus the amazing technology of 3D comprises the latest rendition of Beowulf. What more could you ask for.

In light of the spirit of the ancient European Epic, the world of the reel has graced us with one more visionary and visually-superb creation.  A must-see for all the family. This is what we really hope to see, especially those who cannot grasp the flowery literature of the Beowulf’s old English style. This is the best way to introduce beginners to the complex plot of the said literature.

I, myself, do admit that Beowulf in written form confuses me with its zigzagging phrases. But come its 2007 movie rendition everything has come to light. I understood now why Grendel was so furious as he had to attack the Hall of Heorot. I now understand why Beowulf has to face the dangers, aside from being heroic. And I now understand the paradox of sin.

As I see it Beowulf is a story with man’s relation to sin. Grendel’s mother (Old English: Grendles modor) maybe sin personified and Beowulf may be the man in general. maybe is weak, so they say, and being weak makes us vulnerable to the temptations brought about by sin. We are in constant battle with it though we always fail.

In the essence we will always face the consequence of our weakness and eventually the fruits of our weakness (in the story it could be Grendel or the Dragon) that would deliver us to our downfall. What was so great about this story is that although Beowulf have died to face his downfall at least he has triumphed in overcoming it. That’s the good in it. One more that delights me in the story is the fact that the hero is presented a a real human person: flawed, and that makes it realistic (despite the existence of fantastic creatures).

One cannot deny that he or she has never been tempted by sin. And it lead me to think, and I dare say, that Beowulf is our story not just a story of a hero.

(Image courtesy of http://movies.yahoo.com/)