Society often admires heroes for their bravery. Although many define heroes solely through courage, selflessness defines a true hero because a hero acts in consideration of others rather than of himself. In Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the translated works of Burton Raffel, although both Beowulf and Gawain are depicted as courageous, Beowulf is not deemed a hero while Gawain is due to the extent of selflessness, or lack of selflessness, conveyed through their recognition of weaknesses, indifference for fame, and acceptance of reward.

While both Beowulf and Gawain display courage, the extent of selflessness each display through the recognition of personal weakness, results in only Gawain to be considered a hero. Beowulf, king of Geatland, though “battle-brave” (2417), is becoming old and losing his youthful vigor. However, Beowulf remains convinced that “no man but [he] / could hope to defeat this [dragon]” (2533-2534) and refuses to recognize his weakness of old age. In his battle with the dragon, Beowulf’s weakness is revealed as he can not fend off the dragon and thus finds himself “star[ing] at death, …[a] beaten warrior” (2587-2596). Although Beowulf is still “brave,” sheer bravery is not enough to help him defeat the dragon. This is the “first time in his life that [he]/ [f]ought with fate against him,” a result of his weakness of old age, and the first time he fails to defeat his enemy. Beowulf’s refusal to recognize this weakness leads to his death as he is mortally wounded by the dragon and ultimately causes Geatland to become unprotected from foreign invasion. Beowulf does not consider the effects of his actions on his people, for now his people are susceptible to attack without a king to lead them. Beowulf is therefore selfish, and not considered a hero, in ignoring his weakness of old age because this ignorance results in harm to others. Gawain, on the other hand is deemed a hero due to the recognition of his weakness of giving in to the lady’s seductions. Gawain recognizes his weakness when finds himself “so near to the limit [that] he needed / [e]ither to take her love or boorishly turn her away” (1771-1773). He realizes he is “near to the limit,” refusing her seductions of giving into her seductions, however, due to his selflessness to the lord he “turns her away.” Gawain’s selflessness in not wishing to “[betray] the lord of that house (1775)” by being intimate with his wife deems him a true hero because he considers the effects of his actions on others. Gawain is selfless in recognizing his weakness because he prevents himself from betraying, and thus harming the lord. Gawain’s consideration of the lord, thereby renders him a true hero. The extent of Gawain’s and Beowulf selflessness, depicted through the recognition of weakness, and similarly through their indifference to fame, deems only Gawain as a true hero because of the consideration he gives to others.

A hero does not desire fame because one who seeks fame, though may be courageous, does not consider the interests of others. Gawain accepts the challenge from the green knight to save Camelot from losing King Arthur. When Gawain asks Arthur for permission to accept the challenge, he states that he is the “slightest and dullest of them all; / [his] life the least, [his] death no loss / – [his] only worth is [King Arthur]” (354-356). He accepts the challenge to save Arthur and not for personal fame. Gawain openly says that he is the “slightest” and “dullest,” portraying that he is willing to sacrifice his own life to save Arthur’s life, because Arthur’s life and the other knights’ lives are more valuable than his. Gawain displays selflessness in his willingness to risk his life to save the lives of the knights of Camelot by pronouncing the value of his life is worth “the least” and his death is therefore “no loss” to Camelot. Also, when the lord asks Gawain, during his stay at the lord’s castle, “what heavy burden dr[ives] him” on this journey, and Gawain replies that “[a] heavy, pressing errand takes [him] / [t]o a place, somewhere” (1047-1052). The challenge is both a “heavy burden” and a “pressing errand” for Gawain because he only seeks the green knight to keep his promise and not for fame. The description of the challenge as a “burden” portrays the fact that the challenge is something Gawain does not want to do. Gawain is a true hero because he is selfless and therefore considerate of Arthur before himself. He is indifferent to the fame he will receive from the challenge and continues the challenge though it is a “burden.” Beowulf, on the other hand, is not considerate of others because he accomplishes feats solely for the purpose of his own fame. Beowulf believes that “he who can earn it should fight / [f]or the glory of his name; fame after death / [i]s the noblest of goals” (1387-1389). Beowulf therefore fights against Grendel’s mother “for the glory of his name” and “fame after death” (1387-1389). Beowulf belief that “fame after death / [is] the noblest of goals” (1387-1389) causes him to prioritize his actions based on the fame he receives. Also, Beowulf fights the dragon only to receive fame for killing the dragon. Although Beowulf is “old now, / …[he fights] again, [and] seek[s] fame still,” (2512-2513). Beowulf does not display qualities of a true hero because his primary goal is to seek fame instead of helping others. Although gaining fame can be a direct result of a hero’s actions, a true hero does not consider glory as a reason for acting. Instead of choosing fame, and likewise, instead of accepting reward, true heroes desire to act in consideration of others due to their selflessness.

When faced with the prospect of reward the extent of Beowulf and Gawain’s selflessness base their actions. As Gawain endures the advances of the lady, he can “either take her love or boorishly / turn her away. To offend like a boor / [w]as bad enough; to fall into sin / [w]ould be worse, betraying the lord of that house” (102). Throughout Gawain’s entire thought process, he never mentions his own desires; rather he only considers the consequences his actions will have on others. By turning away her love Gawain saves himself from falling into sin thus continuing his salvation. However rather than deciding based on his own interests, Gawain fears he would “offend like a boor.” The word “boor” phonetically sounds much like “boar.” During the Lord’s hunt for a boar, the wild animal does whatever it can to escape no matter what the damage is to others, essentially posing a selfish image. By refusing to offend like a “boor” or boar, Gawain declares he is the opposite of selfish or selfless. However, Gawain once again only thinks about others, fearing “betraying the lord of that house.” The ambiguity of the words “lord” and “house” denotes the referral to both Bercilak de Hautdesert and God himself. Even though sinning condemns Gawain, he worries about it solely because the act of sinning betrays God. Thus, Gawain is selfless and acts according to the benefit of others, rather himself, depicting the ideals of a true hero. Beowulf, however, in the face of reward, acts out of his own selfish necessities. As he lies dying he requests that a tower be built in his honor and “all the treasure they’d taken [are] left there, too, silver and jewels buried in the ground… again and forever hidden and useless to men” Out of his own lust for material possessions, Beowulf buries the treasure keeping it for only himself. The usage of “[bury]” denotes saturation and subjection of the treasure. By burying the treasure under the tower, a symbol of Beowulf, the tower has complete dominion over the treasure. Rather than considering the wealth and happiness the treasure can bring to Geatland, Beowulf thinks and follows his own lust for material assets. Thus because of his selfish acts Beowulf lacks the true virtue of a hero while Gawain commits acts selflessly with no regard to his own personal gain.

True heroes affect many people because heroes think and act for the benefit of other before thinking of themselves. Gawain is a true hero because he accepts his own weaknesses and does not anticipate immediate or future reward for his deeds. Society considers Beowulf as a hero, but his actions are not representative of those of a true hero. Instead, he desires fame, treasure, and glory while refusing to admit his flaws. Heroes are courageous, but they also are selfless because they are willing to help others. They think of what others need rather than what they desire. Society should define a hero as a person who is both considerate of the needs of the general public and courageous.

Bravery is often considered the key trait in defining a hero. However, more importantly, true heroes are selfless because they act in considerate of others. Beowulf and Gawain both act courageously, yet only Gawain is considered a hero due to the selflessness he exhibits in recognition of weakness, indifference for fame, and acceptance of reward, in contrast to Beowulf. A true hero must be selfless and thus considerate of others because ultimately, it is others who deem one a hero.