Vikings charging into battle, readying for bloodshed. This is what comes to mind when one thinks of Ancient northern Europe. On the other hand, the great poem Beowulf, challenges this concept and provides insight into the true dealings of Old Europe. It’s clear from the beginning of the book, bloodshed is prevalent in this society. In response, a question arises from the gore: how did they stop the violence? It doesn’t end with murder, we know this because Beowulf’s father, Ecgtheow, wasn’t being hunted by the man he murdered, but rather by the man’s family and tribe. As he flees to escape, Hrothgar steps in to settle the dispute by throwing money at the problem. Surprisingly, this was the norm of the time. A family could be enraged by the death of their loved one, but they would be expected to exonerate the murderer the moment they were paid a hefty sum otherwise known as a death price. The fact that this action has a name demonstrates how savage these times truly were. …show more content…
For example, in the book the kings are expected to pay their thanes weekly in order to maintain their loyalty. Good behavior was expected to be rewarded with gold, and bravery was showered with riches beyond belief. Not many people were loyal because of a moral code, not even Beowulf. Beowulf helped Hrothgar because Hrothgar bailed his father out, and he still went back to his king who had bought his loyalty. To summarize, Beowulf provides insight into the realities of this time period, displaying a truly monetary