A Double Consciousness: Christianity in Beowulf

We don’t know much about the man who wrote Beowulf. We do know that he was a Christian, living in a recently converted Christian community, and telling an inherently Pagan story. As a result the poem has what can be described as a double consciousness to it. Although the poet was a Christian, he was able to display the differing values of Germanic Paganism and Christianity without passing judgment on the older system. Part of what allowed him to do this so successfully was that he turned many of the story’s main characters into natural Christians, men who, although nominally Pagan, often speak and act like Christians.

The values of Germanic society are presented in Beowulf even though they often contradict Christian values. The poem, mirroring Pagan society, values physical strength and courage in its citizens. Throughout the poem Beowulf is respected for possessing these characteristics. Upon arriving in Hrothgar’s kingdom, Beowulf is confronted by the lookout, who says, “Nor have I seen/ a mightier man-at-arms on this earth/ than the one standing here: unless I am mistaken/ he is truly noble,” (247-250)*. Before Beowulf even spoke the lookout made positive assumptions about his character, assumptions that don’t fit in a Christian world that believes, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” The poem also puts a high value on gold and treasure, which are not merely sources of wealth but measurements of a man’s honor. Beowulf is given gifts after each victory and these gifts become symbols of his glory, a far cry from “Blessed are the poor for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The greatest discrepancy between the Pagan values presented and Christian values is with regards to revenge and forgiveness. Whereas Jesus taught to turn the other cheek, in Germanic society it was necessary to maintain honor that any killing be avenged. After Grendel’s mother kills Aeschere, Beowulf advises Hrothgar “It is always better/ to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning,” (1384-1385).

What truly gives Beowulf its double consciousness then is the fact that the poet is able to accurately portray the pre-Christian Germanic world without letting his own Christian beliefs, which are ever present, force him into judgments. What made this achievable for the author was that he endowed his Pagan characters with Christian respectability. He made it clear early on that his characters are not Christians. He describes the way they worshiped at “pagan shrines” (175) and explained “The Almighty Judge/ of good deeds and bad, the Lord God,/ Head of the Heaven and the High King of the World,/ was unknown to them,” (180-183). Nonetheless, the main characters often speak like Christians. Upon seeing Grendel’s severed arm Hrothgar says, “First and foremost, let the Almighty Father/ be thanked for this sight,” (927-928). Beowulf does the same thing, often addressing praise and requests to a single, seemingly monotheistic God. Hrothgar and Beowulf are both also presented as rulers who act in the best interest of their people, with genuine concern and compassion. So, although they are far from perfect Christians, they are even further from sinful, barbaric Pagans. The poet presented his characters with these Christian aspects as a way to soften the Pagan elements of their characters and to avoid the necessity of being overtly critical of the Pagan society he wrote about.

*All citations refer to numbers from the version of Beowulf that appears in The Norton Anthology: English Literature.