The Comitatus Bond Essay Example for Free

The Comitatus Bond Essay â€Å"So now, Beowulf, I adopt you in my heart as a dear son. Nourish and maintain this new connection, you noblest of men. . . (63)†. Beowulf is an epic poem about the adventures, journey and maturation of a young legendary warrior from adolescence to his adulthood as a noble king. He gained his great reputation from his brave deeds of slaying the monstrous Grendel, his avenging mother, and the fiery dragon while being an honorable and selfless hero and ruler. Beowulf also presents an ideal of loyalty to thane, the comitatus bond. The failure to live up to this ideal bond on the part of some thanes point up the extraordinary faithfulness of Beowulf. The comitatus bond is a comradery between a master and his warriors. This relationship requires the warriors/thanes to defend their master to the death in exchange for share of wealth, protection and weapons. However, this comitatus code goes beyond the typical warrior-defending-master relationship but rather into a bond of love and friendship. The epic story of Beowulf started out with the portrayal of a failed brotherhood. Grendel was a descendant of Cain, the most notorious slayer of his own brother and of the comitatus bond. â€Å"Cain got no good from committing that murder because the Almighty . . . exacted a price . . . [and] made him [an] anathema . . . (9).† Grendel’s lineage and the idea of a person against his family were very dishonorable and looked down upon by the Anglo-Saxon culture. Thus, Grendel came to represent a character of resentment and malice. The unfulfillment of this comitatus bond continued with the failure of King Hrothgar’s thanes to defend Haerot Hall and their lord from the vicious Grendel. This inadequacy demonstrated the complexity and the difficulty to uphold the bond between a lord and his warriors but paved as a good introduction for our valiant hero who shall overshadow all with his extreme allegiance and honor. Beowulf was considered a perfect hero through the idea of always living up to the comitatus. He started out as a young hero with a questionable reputation who needed to prove himself. After he heard about the attack on Haerot Hall, Beowulf felt his duty to defend it when the king’s current thanes could not. King Hrothgar believed that â€Å". . . His goodness guided him here to the West-Danes to defend [them] from Grendel. . . (27).† Beowulf believed in what Hrothgar stood for and was willing to fight for him. Besides his allegiance to the king Hygelac, Beowulf felt obliged for a man of great power and strength to defend Haerot in order to preserve life. This obligation fulfilled the comitatus bond between King Hrothgar and King Hygelac as well as Beowulf’s duty as a warrior to defend and protect his lord. Even after he defeated Grendel, Beowulf still did not leave until Haerot Hall was rid of all evil and malicious creatures. He knew the threat and danger Grendel’s vengeful mother posed and willfully eliminated her in order to protect the people and fully fulfill his mission. His actions and morals were defined in the comitatus code. He portrayed this comitatus image with such perfection that he can be no less than a hero and treated as such for â€Å". . . his heroism . . . will recompense him with a rich treasure (27).† This excellently depicted the lord and thane relationship for it showed the great appreciation the lord, King Hrothgar, has for his thane, Beowulf. Even when he was given such compensation and fortune, Bewoulf further demonstrated his honor and commitment to the comitatus bond by sharing the prizes with his brave thanes, who defended and helped defeat Grendel and his mother, and to his homeland. This act depicted and emphasized his chivalrous and selfless character. Even after Beowulf’s legendary feats as a warrior and thane, his extraordinary loyalty to the comitatus code still remained intact as a great and wise king. â€Å"He ruled it well for fifty winters, grew old and wise as warden of the land. . . (151).† Beowulf provided his people and thanes with wisdom, protection and prosperity for fifty years. His gradual ascension to the throne gained him more experience, knowledge and patience on ruling Geatland. However, his and his thanes’ loyalty was tested when the ferocious dragon was provoked and wreaked havoc in his kingdom. Beowulf’s amazing comitatus relationship to his people and his thanes as well as his pride and prowess ultimately led him to his own demise. His decision to fight the dragon with just a few warriors failed to prevail because of his thanes’ worthlessness and cowardice. â€Å"No help or backing was to be had then from his high-born comrades; the hand-picked troop broke ranks and ran for their lives to the safety of the wood (175).† The thanes’ unfulfillment of their comitatus bond to Beowulf proved to be the fatal defeat for their lord and their kingdom. But despite his most of his thanes’ disgraceful actions, Beowulf’s loyalty and commitment to the comitatus persisted and finally destroyed the dragon. It accentuated his amazing devotion and allegiance to his people and his thanes for it emphasized how he’s rather die of a worthy and noble cause than of old age. Beowulf has accepted his fate in confidence and perfection and that even the greatest of heroes cannot live forever. Throughout Beowulf’s life, he has adhered exceptionally to the code of conduct in which all warriors should live by. He has formed ties and set standards for lord and thane and turned a relationship of service into a bond of brotherly love and friendship. In spite of conflicts and disloyalty of some, his faithfulness and allegiance to his people and thanes endured and proved to be one of his greatest assets to turn him into a perfect model hero and a defender of the comitatus code.

Too Bare Hamlet :: essays research papers

A son’s tragedy, a brother’s betrayal. A story of responsibility and revenge is that of William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet. The theme in the play Hamlet is one that is great in age and remains present even in today’s entertainment. A modern story which shares this theme is Disney’s The Lion King. The characters Simba and Hamlet are the main characters in both stories and both share many similarities. Treachery from within the family was the cause of both character’s losses, and the initial conflict of the entire story. Along with major characters, the stories also share similar secondary characters. The characters Rosencranz and Guildenstern can be compared to the Disney characters Timon and Pumbaa. The Lion King and Hamlet share a common theme and reflect one another. The Prince of Denmark, the Prince of the Pride Lands, Hamlet and Simba are the main characters of both stories and share similar situations and traits. Both characters think highly of their fathers and share a close bond of love with them. "With all my love I do commend me to you"( II I 184 ), proving that Hamlet not only loves his father but also respects and obeys his wishes. "I was just trying to be brave like you." Simba says this to his father showing how much he looks up to him. Hamlet and Simba delay their action of revenge over their father’s death. The loss of the fatherly figure leaves Hamlet extremely depressed, and Simba with feelings of guilt and without a teacher. Each character runs from their responsibility, although they both know what must be done inside. It is remarkable that such similarities exist in the conflicts and actions of both characters. Hamlet and Simba are betrayed by their uncles whom murder their fathers in order to fulfill their own ambitions. Scar and Claudius were both the brother of the proclaimed King. They both lived in their older brother’s shadow and were envious of their success. Claudius and Scar’s envy led them to kill their brothers which allowed them to seize the throne. "The serpent that did sting thy father’s life/Now wears his crown. ( I V 38,39 )" "Here’s my little secret, I killed Mufasa." To keep their newly claimed throne Scar and Claudius had to guarantee that there would be no interference from their nephews. Both Hamlet and Simba were led astray from their home by their uncle, therefore guaranteeing no interference. "The associates tend, and every thing is bent/For England."( IV III 45,46) "Run away! Run away and never return!" In Hamlet and The Lion King the main characters were betrayed by their uncle by the murdering of their father and

Martin Luther King Jr’s “A Time to Break Silence” Essay

Dr. Martin Luther King Jrs essay A Time to Break Silence was a small but significant piece of his life and career as a minister, Nobel Peace Prize winner, husband, father, civil rights activist, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and an important historical figure for future generations. In this essay, Dr. King discusses why the Vietnam War is important to him. He starts with his first reason, is that he felt like the military had given a promise of hope to the poor, when the government didnt really have the funds or intentions to fulfill their dreams. He felt that the war was almost like an attack on the poor, because it lured them to their death, in a sense. His second reason is recognizing the reality of the war and its impact on the families it affected. Again, he felt like it was an attack on the poor, and especially African Americans, because the government thought they were good enough to fight with white soldiers, leave their families, and die for the country, but not good enough to ride the same bus, go to the same, schools, or have the same equality. Thirdly, he writes about how people need a deeper understanding of war, and need to know that it wont solve all of their problems. He then delves into the fact that although he is a civil rights leader, he still cares about these issues because of the people that it affects. He this talks about the responsibility he carries by receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, and how he feels that it is similar to a commission, and a commitment to work harder for the brotherhood of man. He then goes on to speak about his religious feelings towards the war, and says that it is a privilege and a burden to be human. In the last line of his Importance of Vietman segment, he says For no documents from human hands can make these humans any less our brothers. I feel that his quote has multiple meanings. Taken from his religious views, he follows the teachings of Christ, who is supposed to be the voice for the weak, the voiceless, the victims, ect. I feel this quote also refers to his moral views of treating people equally, and believing that no matter what race, all humans deserve  respect. He begins the next segment of his essay, Strange Liberators, he speaks of his compassion for the people affected by the war. He wonders what the Vietnamese people think of America , and talks about how the U.S government oppressed the Vietamese people because the U.S didnt feel like they were ready for the freedom of running their own government. The U.S and French government poured money into controlling Vietnam , and the U.S ended up paying most of the expenses. This segment basically analyzes the hypocrisy of the U.S, because they were destroying lives and communities, and not actually focusing on liberating Vietnam . The Vietnamese people were treated poorly, and faced the choice of a concentration camp or death. Dr. King compares the treatment of the Vietnamese people to that of the Jews by Germany under Hitlers rule. Dr. King then proclaims that the madness and suffering of the Vietnamese people must end for things to move forward. He speaks of how the war will make the world see America as a place of militarism and violence. He then brings up things that he thinks would help to end the conflicts, such as stopping bombing, removing foreign troops, and accepting the realities of the war. In his next segment, Protesting the War, Dr. King talks about churches, synagogues, and communities bonding together to protest the war, and how American government officials are making peace impossible because they arent willing to give up overseas investments. He feels that America is too materialistic, and that a true revolution of values would soon change the ideals of the people, because war is not the way to peace, justice, and love. He felt that if change was not made, America would approach a spiritual death. He felt that rather than bombing to end communism, America shouldve tried to make positive steps to defeating communism. In the last segment of his this essay, The People are Important, Dr. King says that we must support the revolutions, and make the final analysis of our loyalties. He says that love is the ultimate force of life, and is a  necessity for man. He says that we can no longer afford to hate. Henry Thoreaus essay Civil Disobedience is similar to Dr. Kings, becauseThoreau also feels like the government is run by the majorities, and not the conscious of the people. He feels that the majorities decide right and wrong in the government, and that it is unfair and unjust. Like Dr. King, Thoreau feels that the military is just a tool to the government, disposable lives, an army of machines. Thoreau disagrees with the government, and feels like it is too involved in peoples lives. In conclusion, both essays relate well and give evidence of the wrong doings and mistakes of the government at their time period, and that have and will carry into the future. Work Cited/ Bibliography: King, Martin Luther. A Time to Break Silence. Literature and Society. Ed. Annas, Pamela J. and Rosen, Robert C. Upper Saddle River , New Jersey : Pearson Education Inc, 2007. 1098-1103. Thoreau, Henry. Civil Disobediance. Literature and Society. Ed. Annas, Pamela J. and Rosen, Robert C. Upper Saddle River , New Jersey : Pearson Education Inc, 2007. 1423-.

An Exploration Of The Omnipotence Of Death - 1466 Words

Amanda Stevenson Dr. Sigler EN 317 5 April 2016 An Exploration of the Omnipotence of Death Initially, it seems as if the â€Å"Death† presented in Emily Dickinson’s â€Å"Because I could not for Death –† was meant to parallel a suitor. In fact, Chris Semansky claims that â€Å"Death† in the poem â€Å"is personified as a suitor who takes his potential bride away from her busy life† (Semansky). However, with further investigation, it becomes evident that â€Å"Death† is actually a representation of God, extinguishing the possibility of a romantic aspect. â€Å"Death† does not show any definite affection toward the speaker, but rather, â€Å"He† is kind and respectful, which confirms that â€Å"Death† does not have to be seen as a suitor. Although there is no explicit mention of spirituality within the poem, given Dickinson’s Christian background, along with her consistent poetic themes involving life and death from a religious standpoint, an extended metaphor of God as â€Å"Death† is feasib le. â€Å"Death† initially stops for the speaker because she is unable to stop for herself, revealing the inabilities of mankind and the need for help in some form. In â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death-,† Dickinson reveals that man’s short fallings are consolidated through the manifestation of God’s power. This is done through the illustration of a carriage ride as well as the strategic use of a flashback. In alignment with Dickinson’s other poems, â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death –† does not actually have a title. By taking theShow MoreRelatedShakespeare s Sonnet 12 ( 1609 ) And George Herbert s Poem Virtue ( 1633 )894 Words   |  4 PagesThis essay will address the theme of death in Shakespeare’s Sonnet 12 (1609) and George Herbert’s poem Virtue (1633). Both Shakespeare and Herbert explore notions of death in their poems, in terms of the tension between the psychical and the spiritual in a religious context. However, where they differ is that Shakespeare places emphasis on the importance of the corporeal, and of what is left behind on earth after death. In contrast, Herbert focuses on the impermanence of the physical, instead advocatingRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Mont Blanc 912 Words   |  4 Pagesmore assertively reconciled in â€Å"Mont Blanc† when Shelley essentially forces the reader to participate in this discovery of the sublime—even leaving questions open for the reader to decipher in their own way: â€Å"Has some unknown omnipotence unfurled/ the veil of life and death? Or do I lie/ In dream, and does the mightier world of sleep/ spread far around and inaccessibly/ Its circles?† There are even moments where Shelley questions the certainty of man’s perceptions of nature, especially in regardRead MoreThe Miracles of Jesus Christ3802 Words   |  16 Pageswoman With Internal Bleeding†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. f. Healing two Blind Men†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. g. Blind bartmaeus Receives his sight†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 2. Exorcism a. Healing a Mute Demoniac†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 3. Power Over Death a. Raising Jairus’ Daughter†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 4. Controlling Nature a. Water turned wine†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ b. The Miracle of Jesus Walking on the Sea†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. c. The Feeding of the Four Thousand†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Read MoreThe Miracles of Jesus Christ3814 Words   |  16 PagesHealing a woman With Internal Bleeding†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. f. Healing two Blind Men†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. g. Blind bartmaeus Receives his sight†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 2. Exorcism a. Healing a Mute Demoniac†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 3. Power Over Death a. Raising Jairus’ Daughter†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 4. Controlling Nature a. Water turned wine†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ b. The Miracle of Jesus Walking on the Sea†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. c. The Feeding of the Four Thousand†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Read MoreGod s Salvation For Us1813 Words   |  8 PagesBefore starting the exploration of discerning God s predestined plan of salvation for us, we have to understand a little bit about his own nature, attributes and characteristics. With our limited mind, we cannot fully comprehend or define Him, but based on the scripture verses that we have, we can observe some of His essences and attributes. His divine essences are revealed in the Scripture through His love, holiness and righteousness. Some theologians, who tried to understand God s nature, alsoRead MoreAnalysis Of Zhivago s Children Were The Last Russian Intelligentsia2215 Words   |  9 Pagesintellectuals to stay within the system and create a just and humane society. The intelligentsia embodied the rejuvenation of Soviet idealism. The Twentieth Congress Party of the USSR was the linchpin of the transformation of Soviet society after Stalin’s death. While the Great Patriotic War changed the mindset of intellectuals and encouraged free thought and self-expression, the Stalinist regime repressed the intelligentsia in order to exert control over Soviet society. Yet, Soviet society drastically changedRead MoreThe Tragical History Of Doctor Faustus1991 Words   |  8 Pagesinsatiable thirst for knowledge and is expressed when Faustus says: O, what a world of profit and delight, Of power, of honor, of omnipotence Is promised to the studious artisan! All things that move between the quiet poles Shall be at my command (Marlowe 1026). This quote shows the thirst for knowledge, the intellectual curiosity, and the desired wealth and exploration that came along with the Renaissance. At this point in time, nothing seemed impossible, and Marlowe expressed these ideas throughRead MoreThe Application of Psychodynamic Theories Based on the Frances Ashe Case Study3636 Words   |  15 Pagesthe family home of a ‘mother’s help,’ the role reversal between her and her mother which led to her prematurely forcing dependency, and the sexual contact Frances had with her father. Frances spent most of her early years surrounded by signs of death and illness that her ego defence mechanism of introjection had let her unconsciously identify so deeply with those feelings that it had become part of her. Frances was left feeling that she too was a model of ill-health and was doomed to a life ofRead MoreEssay about introduction to Psychodynamic Therapies4081 Words   |  17 Pagesand its dynamics. (Jacobs, 2010) A Therapeutic aim could be to bring unconscious material to the conscious. 3rd Assumption: Behaviour is motivated by instinctual drives: Eros (the sex drive life instinct) and Thanatos (the aggressive drive death instinct). These drives come from the â€Å"id†, seeking satisfaction and avoiding suffering. Object relations emphasise the drive of seeking a relationship in addition to other drives. Fairbairn says that Libido is an object seeking impulse, rather thanRead MoreThe difference between medieval and early modern is one of degree rather than strict demarcation. Discuss this idea in the context of any two writers you have read.(Everyman and Dr Faustus)2404 Words   |  10 Pagesperiod of time between them was not very great, the change must be limited. Everyman and Dr Faustus are respectively medieval and early modern drama texts that share common issues. However, the way in which they handle them varies, and allows an exploration of whether the people and culture of the medieval and early modern period differed by slight degree or strict demarcation. The medieval age of English history is epitomised as a strongly religious time, where Christianity provided a strict identity