Why Beowulf Still Matters
(And Why Modern Heroes Are Often Utter Bollocks)
Right, Beowulf. It's not just some dusty old poem you were forced to read in school. It's a goddamn blueprint. A blueprint for what a hero should be, and frankly, a stark reminder of how many of our modern heroes fall pathetically short.
Why does Beowulf still resonate? Because at its core, the poem speaks to something fundamental: the need for someone strong, courageous, and willing to face down the monsters that threaten us, both literal and figurative.
The Beowulfian Ideal
Think about Beowulf himself:
Honour: He sticks to his word.
Pride: He knows he's good, and he's not afraid to show it.
Selflessness: He risks his life for others, not for personal gain.
Badassery: He rips arms off monsters. Need I say more?
These aren't just traits, they're aspirations. They're the qualities we secretly (or not so secretly) yearn for in our leaders, our protectors, and even in ourselves.
The Slow, Painful Decline of the Proper Hero
Growing up in the 80s and early 90s, we were drowning in heroes carved from this very Beowulfian mould. Arnie in Predator and Terminator 2? Peak masculinity. The pre-Craig Bond (Brosnan era, naturally)? Suave, deadly, and unapologetically heroic. Luke Skywalker and Han bloody Solo? Flawed, yes, but ultimately willing to fight for what's right.
Then, something shifted. We got "smarter" heroes, martial arts heroes, CGI-laden spectacle over substance. It wasn't all bad, mind you. But the sense of honour, the sheer presence of those earlier heroes, started to fade.
The superhero boom of the late 2000s offered a glimmer of hope. Captain America (Steve Rogers) and Thor gave us big, strong, selfless men willing to die to save the day. But even then, the cracks were starting to show.
The 2020s: When Heroes Went to Shite
Let's be brutally honest: the 2020s have been a disaster for the traditional male hero. A certain woke agenda took hold, and suddenly, masculinity was "toxic". Instead, we're force-fed these Mary Sue characters – women are suddenly able to defeat anyone and everyone, and every male character in the area is a useless idiot. And the blokes? Weak, effeminate, emotional wrecks.
Thankfully, this phase seems to be faltering, and we could see a resurgence of the Beowulf style hero anytime now...
What Have We Learned?
First, storytelling itself. Beowulf reminds us that stories don't always need neat prose or exposition dumps. Sometimes, it's enough to say, "This happened, then this happened," and let the audience fill in the gaps. It is a pre-Christian tale, after all.
More importantly, heroism hasn't changed. Despite what Hollywood executives might think, people still crave that Beowulfian ideal. Big, strong, proud men with a code of honour. Men who are loved by women, not despised.
Heroism is primal. We want men of honour fighting for us, not scamming us. We want heroes to save us from the monsters we can't defeat ourselves. And some of us? We want to be those heroes. What could be more masculine than that?
Whether it's in a 1300-year-old poem or in the form of Jack Reacher, a true hero is never far away.
Life is a constant evolution, a dance with change that shapes who we are and where we’re headed. And just like life, this site is transforming once more. I don’t yet know where this journey will lead, but that’s the beauty of it—each shift brings us closer to where we’re meant to be.
Change is not a sign of uncertainty, but of growth. It’s the path we must take to uncover our true purpose. And while we may not always understand where life is guiding us, it’s in the act of seeking, of embracing the flow, that we discover our direction.
Imagine life as a river, with its tides, currents, and eddies. If we fight against the current, we tire and falter. But if we surrender to it, letting it guide us, we might just find ourselves exactly where we’re meant to be.
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