The Comitatus Relationship in Beowulf Essays - 602 Words

Throughout history rulers have always been protective of their kingdoms. In hopes of always being in control of their territory, rulers develop special relationships with the people to protect them. This relationship was usually achieved by of instilling fear into the minds of their warriors, or instilling respect between each other. In the story Beowulf the relationship between the ruler and his thanes is that of honor, friendship, and respect. In Anglo Saxon stories, the relationship between the ruler and his thanes is known as comitatus. The comitatus relationship requires that the thane swear to defend a lord to their death, while he provides them with the protection and a share of his wealth and weapons. This sounds like a typical†¦show more content†¦Similar in structure to many other protection relationships, the bond between the lord and his thanes was often family oriented. This always seems to be the case in a protective situation in which a lords life depends upon the dependability of his/her warriors. Because Grendel is a descendent of Cain, and Cain being the most notorious brother slayer, shows that Anglo Saxon culture look very poorly upon a person going against his family. In Beowulf, the comitatus relationship is seen between Hrothgar and his retainers and between Beowulf and his men. The comitatus also extended to a long-standing bond between the Geats (Beowulf?s people) and the Danes (Hrothgar?s people). Because of this bond, Beowulf and his men left their homes and traveled to the lands of the Danes to help them in time of need. This social tie within the society makes the comitatus relationship even stronger. Furthermore, the lord and Thane relationship is represented well in Beowulf. In the first part of the story, the thane Beowulf protects the lord Hrothgar, Beowulf believes in what Hrothgar stands for and is willing to fight for him. Not only does Hrothgar give Beowulf treasures, but he also puts his trust into him: Now Beowulf, best of men, I will love you in my heart like a son, keep to our new kinship from this day on(Crossley, 32). This is an excellent portrayal of the lord and thane relationship, and shows how much appreciationShow MoreRelatedBeowulf Analysis1236 Words   |  5 PagesKnowing Your Place In the poem Beowulf, the author shifts from Beowulf being an orphan to being a king, by incorporating underlying themes such as strength and skill, identity, and shift in power to demonstrate the importance of social structure and the adherence to the comitatus code between noblemen and thanes. The most important literary element that the poet utilizes is strength and skill for the reason that the better you are in combat the more respected you are and the greater your rewardsRead MoreBeowulf : The Epic Of Beowulf1027 Words   |  5 Pages To begin, Beowulf the poem has a unknown author, Beowulf is an epic poem. 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