Life lessons from ‘Beowulf’

A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. — Christopher Reeve (1952-2004)

Nothing is given to man on earth — struggle is built into the nature of life, and conflict is possible — the hero is the man who lets no obstacle prevent him from pursuing the values he has chosen. —Andrew Bernstein

This is how movies should be made and the very reason for their existence. More than for artistic excellence or change-the-world idealism, a good movie should give the audience real entertainment. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, Beowulf, scripted by Roger Avary and famed novelist Neil Gaiman, starring Ray Winstone with Anthony Hopkins and Angelina Jolie and aided by sophisticated computer-generated imagery, is an enthralling, action-packed movie and a satisfying multi-sensory experience.

I watched the visually-stunning Beowulf in 3D splendor at SM Mall of Asia’s San Miguel/Coke Imax Theater, the same night our Congress was bombed (the news was first texted to me by PS Bank EVP Rolly Rodriguez). I came out of the moviehouse inspired and energized by Beowulf, but also thinking — like the citizens of monster-besieged Heorot kingdom — that we need fearless avenging heroes to obliterate the numerous monstrous evils plaguing our society.

For lovers of literature, history, folklore and fans of sexy and brainy actress Angelina Jolie (such as this writer), this ingenious film adaptation of the oldest English-language epic poem, “Beowulf,” is a sumptuous delight of good storytelling, adventure, drama and wham-bam action. It is not perfect but it is a good movie, despite some deviations from the original Anglo-Saxon literary opus like the hero’s hubris and his controversial link to monster Grendel’s mother.

The story is set in the 6th century Danish kingdom of Heorot ruled by the dissolute drunkard King Hrotgar and his pretty and musically-inclined Queen Wealthow. The kingdom is attacked nonstop by the hideous, bloodthirsty monster Grendel and his evil but bewitchingly sexy mother played by Angelina Jolie (whose naked physique is highlighted in scintillating gold and tipped with a serpentine ponytail). Hope comes when the famed Viking warrior Beowulf leads his ragtag group of Geat men to sail to this kingdom, volunteering to slay the monsters “not for gold, but for glory.” Beowulf bellows for all to hear and to echo through the ages: “If we die, it will be for glory, not for gold!”

While I enjoyed this movie with sheer wild abandon like a kid, here are some of the real-life lessons I gathered from this intriguing recreation of an ancient myth:

Face your demons. Beowulf shows us that the best way to deal with frightening and complex demons, in our society or in our lives, is not to run away, not to hide. Confront the demons, go to their innermost lairs, fight them head-on and crush them!

Be humble in victory, more so during setbacks. Don’t be foolhardy like in the early part of the movie, when Beowulf tries to lie or create excuses about supposedly fighting sea monsters as the cause of his defeat in a swimming race across the ocean. Perhaps his account was partly true, but it seems the warrior was embellishing or exaggerating his exploits. We are humans and shouldn’t be ashamed of our occasional setbacks; in fact it is even better to maintain humility in our most glorious triumphs.

Be faithful to your spouse. The Danish King Hrotgar and his successor Beowulf had succumbed to the near-fatal error of infidelity, with costly long-term emotional and even other life-threatening adverse consequences.

Don’t judge a book by its cover. The Danish king and our Viking hero Beowulf failed to heed the wisdom of this old adage: that we shouldn’t be easily fooled or swayed by mere physical beauty as exemplified by the utterly destructive but physically seductive monster mother played so convincingly by Jolie. Physical beauty is only skin deep; what matters most is a person’s character, heart, values and intentions.

Never leave behind unfinished business. In wars or in other endeavors, we shouldn’t slacken or be tempted to languor in our half-baked successes. Never be content with only half or partial efforts. We should give our all, our very best. Win or lose, we should meet our challenges and never leave unfinished business behind, in the same way that Beowulf did when he killed Grendel but didn’t destroy its more evil mother.

To slay demons, strike decisively at the heart. The words of King Hrotgar, which Beowulf embraced in his final battle. The most effective way for us to destroy demons — whether in myths or in our lives — is to decisively focus on the problem. When solving or confronting problems, we shouldn’t be distracted by side issues or peripheral matters, but sift through the mess and strike at the heart of the matter.

It is best to conquer one’s self. More than subduing armies or slaying monsters, the epic life of the Viking hero Beowulf shows us that the greatest and most difficult challenge is to conquer our own selves — our inner demons of pride, overconfidence, sloth, human frailty and weakness for temptation. In the penultimate near-fatal clash of Beowulf, he had to vanquish a monstrous adversary brought about by his own past hubris.

Leaders should inspire. If we are to be leaders among our peers, in our families, in our communities or in nation-states, we should be first in battling at the frontlines like the fearless and resolute Beowulf. We shouldn’t be last in the fight but first in enjoying the spoils, but true leaders should have the spirit of self-sacrifice and lead the way. Great leaders like Beowulf should inspire courage, faith and indomitable hope.

Never lose hope; victory is our destiny. We should emulate the overpowering positive attitude of Beowulf. While the Danish kingdom of Heorot sank into despair, when even their king, queen and other so-called leaders were cowering in fear, Beowulf showed up with invincible faith, sure of success. We should vigorously slay the demons of doubt and fear. We are not hapless victims of fate. We should never lose hope in our life battles, no matter how difficult or bruising our struggles, no matter how life-threatening or cruel the odds. God has created all of us for a purpose and to have meaningful lives. We’ll soon flourish. We should believe that success is our destiny!

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