In The Romance of Tristan of Beowulf and Beroul, the heroes Beowulf and Tristan are magnificent fighters. Their numerous victories against seemingly insurmountable odds and powerful enemies are a testament to their talent in battle. Yet the two heroes employ violence in their endeavors for different reasons and for different objectives. While Beowulf engages in battle almost exclusively out of attraction to combat and the recognition of violent success, Tristan does so out of passion and devotion to love. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The noble Geat Beowulf is described and praised as a superb warrior as soon as he is introduced to those who need his help. When Hrothgar first meets Beowulf in his battered court, he recalls the fame of Edgetheow's son: "The seafarers said, I remember...that this fighter in his hands had the strength of thirty other men" (63). And Beowulf is quick to verify the rumor of great power in his hands, recounting the time when "I had bound five giants---their blood fell upon me---" and when he "crushed upon the wave sea serpents by night "in a close fight, he defeated the beasts" (64). Vain, but apparently able to substantiate his words with deeds, he asks: "And should I not experience a single encounter with this monster Grendel, a trial against this troll ?" (64). Beowulf's confidence in his abilities is quite evident in this encounter between the Geats and Danes, as is his desire to fight as a measure of his power. He offers to fight the monstrous descendant of Cain with more more concerned with proving himself than actually protecting Heorot. "That my lord Hygelac, my leader in war, may rejoice over me, I completely abjure the use of the sword or shield of a yellow plank in this battle! " declares the warrior (64-5). The battle with Grendel must be fair, so that if he wins, Beowulf can claim fame and claim yet another achievement for his legend. Conversely, if Beowulf's concern was primarily to save Hrothgar's kingdom, the Geats would surely appreciate the support of weapons and his men, strong warriors in their own right and perhaps invaluable aid in facing Grendel (although Beowulf easily defeats the infernal giant). towards fighting for sport fuels Beowulf's heart at an even earlier age. During the initial feast in Heorot, Beowulf recounts his swimming race with Breca when they were teenagers. Although morning finds Breca but not Beowulf "thrown from the sea upon the shore of reams of battle," Beowulf casts a different light on the victor (68). Even after destroying the sea creatures that drag him out to sea as he and Breca run, Beowulf seeks out and kills "seven sea monsters, in the hardest night fight I ever heard of" (69). Nothing drives this behavior in the future king of the Geats more than a burning desire to compete and test one's limits. Indeed, Beowulf's desire to strive for satisfaction and glory continues until his death. After the battle with Grendel, the Geat prince pursues Grendel's mother and defeats the monster in the Werewolf; his prize for fighting her is Grendel's head. Having twice saved Hrothgar's people, Beowulf can joyfully leave the state of Scylding with a great legacy for the Danes to remember forever. Beowulf's final battle with the dragon is another example of his desire for challenge and a chance for triumph in an ancient age. Although it should be noted that the elderly king of the Geats also sets out to fight adue to the dragon's decimation of his mead hall and the murder of his people, the dragon's treasure is what Beowulf speaks of in his speech to his subjects. "Now the hard edge, the hand and the blade will fight for the treasure!" cries (130). "By boldness I will win this gold; otherwise war will take your king, terrible bane of life!" (131). And when Beowulf approaches death, the glory of his newly acquired treasure is what is on his mind. He says to Wiglaf, his beloved kinsman: "Make haste, that I may behold that golden inheritance, that ancient wealth... with more calm then can I, on behalf of the treasure, take my departure from the life and lordship I have detained for a long time" (138). Once again, Beowulf here also speaks as a king who would like to leave his people a rich legacy, but the fire of his pride and longing for triumph, however dimly lit, is still present as life fades. Beowulf dies “an old and grieving man,” but feels satisfaction at having lost his life fighting for something and winning it (139). Contrary to Beowulf's intentions to fight, Rivalen's son Tristan actively participates in the violence for his love, Yseut the Just. Although his battle with Morholt is not motivated by passion for the Irish princess, most of the other battles and episodes of violence that Tristan takes part in involve some sort of symbol of devotion, protection, or punishment in the context of love. While Tristan, Yseut, and Governal remain exiled in the forest of Morrois, Tristan's dog, Husdant, is released to determine "whether he is unhappy because of his master" or is mad (81). When Husdant is allowed to wander and finds his master, Tristan is the only person distressed by his appearance. Concerned for him and the safety of his mistress, Mark's nephew decides that it is "Better for him to be killed than for us to be caught because of his barking." I am very sorry that he will have to die, because he is a good boy. animal" (83). Here unequivocal devotion is shown by the knight, who for the sake of a beautiful lady would kill his companion Husdant, so loyal, so devoted to his master. Only through the advice of the same person for whom he would sacrifice the his dog, Tristan spares the dog and "tries to teach him to hunt game without barking" (83) Even after the love potion wears off, the love Tristan has for Yseut is strong When King Mark orders a Yseut to take revenge with an oath, she devises a plan that would allow her to make a truthful oath, but would put Tristan in potential danger, if he were captured. While a simple lie for the Irish princess would be enough and would not be such a dishonorable act (since it is already engaged in an adulterous relationship of his own free will), Tristan is more than willing to be ashamed by wearing leper clothes and appearance and risk being captured. After Yseut's vindication, Tristan further participates in violence to eliminate his enemies, those who know about his relationship with Yseut. Hidden in a thicket of thorn bushes, he first ruthlessly kills Denoalan. “To save himself he cut off the villain's head and didn't even give him time to say, 'I'm hurt' (146). To add to the brutality, Tristan cuts off Denoalan's hair to show Yseut. When he later visits the rooms of Yseut, with his help "against the light behind the curtain he saw Godwin's head" (148) The knight accustomed to battle slays the nosy baron with bow and arrows, which "pierced Godwin's eye and penetrated into it." depth in the head and brain." (148). If Tristan can help him, no one who jeopardizes his relationship with Yseut will survive. The barons, poorly represented in the poem but.