In the film Beowulf 2007, Hrothgar is portrayed as a lousy king who enjoys drinking with his men.
Despite his behavior, he was a great king who had won many battles and conquered various lands. However, the issue of inheritance was a significant problem for him.
He did not have a son who could inherit his kingdom and continue his legacy.
His beautiful wife, Wealtheow, did not want to give him a child because she knew about her husband's secret affair with the Water Demon, a human serpent who resembled Angelina Jolie.
The secret affair had something to do with the creature Grendel, a troll-like creature who terrorized humans.
He tore the bodies of soldiers and civilians apart. Hrothgar's only son, Grendel, was their offspring from the Water Demon serpent. This was probably the reason why the king was spared by the monster.
When Beowulf arrived on the scene, he was able to get rid of Grendel. However, as the story progressed, Beowulf also fell for the beauty of the Water Demon.
Hrothgar's order was actually to slay Grendel's mother, but Beowulf returned and lied about it. Only Hrothgar knew that Beowulf had not slain the Water Demon but only Grendel.
The hero brought the monster's decapitated head as proof. So, realizing the slayer's lies, the king claimed that he was no longer under the curse, which was passed down to Beowulf.
The Curse of the Water Demon
Hrothgar was already cursed by the Water Demon serpent in exchange for power as a mighty king of Heorot. The curse was that he would not be able to have any human child except for his son Grendel.
This was the reason why, even as a king, he did not have any child. Some might argue that he could have picked up any other woman in his kingdom to bear him a child, like Beowulf's mistress Ursula, but he could not.
It was a part of the curse.
Grendel was Hrothgar's only son, but he was a monstrous creature who terrorized humans. The curse was not just limited to Hrothgar's inability to have human children, but it also affected his kingdom.
The curse brought chaos and destruction to the kingdom as Grendel continued to attack the citizens.
Beowulf's Encounter with Grendel and the Water Demon
Beowulf arrived in Heorot to help Hrothgar with the problem of Grendel. Beowulf was a skilled warrior who was confident in his abilities. He boasted about his past accomplishments, and his arrival was met with much fanfare.
The battle with Grendel was brutal, and it left many casualties. Beowulf ultimately defeated Grendel by tearing off his arm. The aftermath of the battle was just as brutal, as Grendel's mother sought revenge for the death of her son.
Beowulf ventured into the Water Demon's lair to kill her. Beowulf emerged victorious, but he lied about his actions to Hrothgar. He claimed to have slain the Water Demon, but he had only killed Grendel.
Hrothgar, who knew the truth, felt betrayed by Beowulf's lies. He realized that the curse of the Water Demon was now passed down to Beowulf.
Hrothgar's Decision to Name Beowulf His Successor
Hrothgar made the decision to name Beowulf his successor after realizing that the curse had been passed down to him.
This means that Hrothgar had to look for a solution to the curse. He had to find a way out of the predicament that he was in. It is interesting to note that Hrothgar does not seem to be particularly bothered by the curse.
He seems content to live out his life in the knowledge that he has been a successful king, despite his personal problems.
This suggests that Hrothgar is not as invested in his personal life as he is in his role as king.
Hrothgar is portrayed as a king who loves to get drunk with his men. This suggests that he is not a particularly serious or responsible king.
However, despite this, Hrothgar is also portrayed as a great king who has won many battles and conquered various lands.
This suggests that he is a competent ruler who is able to manage his kingdom effectively. However, his personal problems and the curse that he is under prevent him from being the ideal king.
One of the problems that Hrothgar faces is the fact that he does not have a son who can inherit his kingdom and continue his legacy.
His wife, Wealtheow, does not want to give him a child because she knows about his secret affair with the Water Demon.
This is an interesting twist in the story because it shows that Hrothgar's personal life is affecting his ability to rule his kingdom.
The fact that his wife is not willing to give him a child shows that she does not trust him, which suggests that he is not a particularly trustworthy or faithful husband.
The secret affair that Hrothgar has with the Water Demon has something to do with Grendel, the troll-like creature that terrorizes the people of Heorot.
Grendel is actually Hrothgar's son, who is the offspring of Hrothgar and the Water Demon. This is the reason why Hrothgar is spared by Grendel, despite the fact that he is killing everyone else.
Grendel is seeking revenge on behalf of his mother, who has been mistreated by Hrothgar.
When Beowulf enters the scene, he is able to get rid of Grendel. However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that Beowulf has fallen for the beauty of the Water Demon. Hrothgar orders Beowulf to slay Grendel's mother, but when he returns, he lies about it.
Only Hrothgar knows that Beowulf did not slay the Water Demon, but only Grendel. Beowulf brings the monster's decapitated head as proof of his success, but Hrothgar realizes that he has been deceived.
Realizing that Beowulf has lied to him, Hrothgar claims that he is no longer under the curse and passes it down to Beowulf.
He then decides to commit suicide by jumping off the castle parapet, which suggests that he is no longer interested in ruling his kingdom.
This is an interesting twist in the story because it shows that Hrothgar is willing to give up his life for the sake of his kingdom. He realizes that he is no longer capable of ruling his kingdom and decides to pass the mantle of leadership to Beowulf.
My Personal Opinion about Hrothgar as a fallen king
Hrothgar is portrayed as a fallen king who is unable to rule his kingdom effectively due to personal problems and a curse that he is under.
Despite this, he is able to maintain his position as king and win many battles. This suggests that he is a competent ruler who is able to manage his kingdom effectively.
However, his personal problems prevent him from being the ideal king.
The same can be said about Hrothgar’s ultimate sacrifice. By giving up his life and passing on the crown to
Beowulf, he was hoping to rid himself and his kingdom of the curse that had plagued him for so long.
But was his decision to commit suicide really necessary?
Some may argue that Hrothgar’s suicide was an act of cowardice, a way of escaping from his problems rather than facing them head-on.
After all, he was a great king who had won many battles and conquered various lands. Surely, he could have found a way to break the curse without resorting to such drastic measures.
However, it is important to remember that Hrothgar had been living with this curse for a very long time. He had watched as his people suffered at the hands of Grendel and his mother, powerless to stop the carnage.
He had no heirs to succeed him, no one to continue his legacy and protect his people from future threats. And worst of all, he had betrayed his own people by keeping the truth about Grendel’s origins a secret.
Hrothgar must have felt immense guilt and shame over his actions, knowing that his own sins had led to the suffering of his people.
Perhaps he felt that he had failed as a king and as a father. In his mind, the only way to make things right was to pass on the crown to Beowulf and finally break the curse once and for all.
It is also worth noting that Hrothgar was an older man at this point, and he may have felt that he had lived long enough. He had seen and done many things in his lifetime, and perhaps he was ready to rest.
Suicide may have been his way of choosing when and how he would go, rather than waiting for death to come to him.
In any case, it is clear that Hrothgar’s suicide was a deeply personal and complex decision, and one that was likely influenced by many factors.
It is not our place to judge his actions, but rather to try to understand them and learn from them.
Lessons to be Learned
There are several important lessons that we can learn from Hrothgar’s story. First and foremost, we must be careful about the decisions we make, and the consequences that they may have.
Hrothgar’s secret affair with the water demon serpent led to the birth of Grendel and the curse that would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Even the smallest decisions can have far-reaching consequences, and we must be mindful of this fact.
Secondly, we must always be honest with ourselves and others. Hrothgar’s decision to keep the truth about Grendel’s origins a secret ultimately led to the suffering of his people.
He betrayed their trust and failed in his duties as a king. Honesty and transparency are crucial for any leader, and we must strive to embody these qualities in our own lives.
Finally, we must be willing to take responsibility for our actions, and to make amends when we have done wrong.
Hrothgar’s suicide can be seen as a form of atonement for his sins, a way of making things right for his people and passing on the crown to a more worthy successor.
We too must be willing to take responsibility for our mistakes and make amends when necessary, in order to grow and learn from our experiences.
Final Words
Hrothgar’s story is a powerful and complex one, full of tragedy and sacrifice. His ultimate decision to commit suicide and pass on the crown to Beowulf was a deeply personal and complex one, influenced by many factors.
But despite the sadness and despair of his final moments, there are still valuable lessons to be learned from his story.
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