Wiglaf

I feel that Wiglaf in many ways is a more pure hero than Beowulf. After reading of Beowulf’s exploits it seems to me that he is willing to do heroic things more in order to become a hero than with more pure motives. The moment that Wiglaf comes into fruition is when Beowulf is fighting the dragon and all of the men waiting for the fight decide to leave Beowulf. Wiglaf steps up and realizes the wrong that is being committed. Having been raised to his current standing by the grace of Beowulf he realizes a debt. He realizes that he and all of his cohorts with him are in debt to Beowulf for all that they have and that deserting him would be wrong. After giving a speech to the deserting men and calling all of them cowards. (A bold thing to do in my mind) He goes in to help Beowulf fight the dragon. Working together they are able to slay the dragon but Beowulf dies in the process. Wiglaf entered the situation and the fight solely because he felt it was his duty to help the man that had promoted him and not for glory. This in my mind gives him a better backing to his heroic acts and makes him a more complete hero.