The interesting aspect of Beowulf, the epic, is the metamorphosis of Beowulf the man and hero to Beowulf the king. The reader follows the main character as he becomes what he is destined to become, a heroic king. A character can be both a hero and a king or he (in this case Beowulf) can be either. There are features and characteristics that we must look into in order to decide if a character is a successful and impressionable king. The description of Beowulf's battle with the sea serpents when he is in the swimming contest with his friend is a show of strength. Although to the reader, this can satisfy the enormity of his physical strength, he is also displaying pride and foolishness. Besides the poem describing to the reader of a young Beowulf, it can be easily seen by his actions. He gives into his pride even though it might have cost him his life. He is foolish in agreeing to this contest because he is only thinking of his own personal fame. He is portraying the normal behavior of a hero, not as a king, who in order for the survival of his people, needs to think of them as a whole and not only of personal fame. A hero's characteristics are most importantly a warrior, exceed in physical strength, and be from the upper social class. A king needs to be so much more. He will need wisdom to guide him, strategic sense to help him during warfare, and courage. A king most notably needs to see his kingdom as a unit and not of himself alone. Although early in the epic Beowulf does lack some kingly characteristics, we are shown the stages of his life from a prideful, young hero to a respected king who shows great loyalty to his people.
As the epic unfolds, Beowulf is described as having the strength of thirty men. His supernatural strength is necessary as a hero, but not necessarily to make a good king. As he continues with his introduction to King Hrothgar, he gives examples of his great deeds and portrays his physique almost to a superhuman height. His boasts are not of a kingly nature, yet his courage and bravery certainly are. Although his heroic speech allows Beowulf to speak of himself it is also to show the king that he is able to defeat the monster or die trying. Beowulf always is primarily involved with any battle he must face. He does not allow his men into battle alone, he leads them. Leadership skills are a vital feature to have as a king in order to earn respect of your people.
Beowulf is not only a fierce warrior; he is also a respectable leader. His men see him as a leader and loyalty to his people is seen as one of his kingly features from the beginning, "My men have been advising me - very fine men, wide people," (20.413-415). Beowulf is addressing Hrothgar, Protector of the Scyldings, and after a brief description of his family lineage, he speaks of his comrades and credits them for having the wisdom of the group. He continues by describing heroic, yet bloody battles, in which he himself is the victor. The commendation of his comrades, even though they are not spoken of having physical strength, shows the audience of Beowulf's loyalty for his companions.
Beowulf also shows appreciation of his men by sharing the treasure he has earned by killing the monster Grendel. King Hrothgar awards Beowulf by giving him valuable treasure, as a great warrior hero and good king, Beowulf allots his reward, "Further the lord of good soldiers gave a crown-jewel, and heirloom, to each of those on the mead-bench who had made the crossing with Beowulf," (35.1060-1052). He is the one who kills Grendel, yet he shows how honorable he can be by this simple action. He acknowledges to his men that they are far more valuable than any treasure King Hrothgar could have bestowed on him. He is featured as a kingly hero with even greater wisdom than portrayed at the beginning of the epic. When he values the lives of the soldiers killed previously by Grendel. He gives their families some of his rewarded treasure as compensation, "…and ordered that man paid for in gold whom Grendel had killed before in his wickedness," (35-36. 1052-1054). Beowulf is seen as valuing life and not just battle and personal fame.
Later in the epic, not only does Beowulf show the value of life, but also value of family and respect for the royal throne. When the Geats king dies, Hygelac, he is offered the throne before any of the direct descendants of the late king. The king's two sons who are assumed to be the next in line to the throne are surpassed. Beowulf rejects the kingship and is honored in doing so because he makes the statement that he does not want to usurp the throne. He displays honor and patience until the two sons die, and then Beowulf accepts the throne. He is a deserving king and the audience feels it is rightly his because of this honorable action. At this point the audience is beginning to see that he is both a brave hero and a great king, even though he may still lack some kingly qualities.
From the start Beowulf shows no need for humility because he has confidence in his physical strength and he believes this super human quality will help him win any obstacle that may come his way. His arrogance gets in the way of what possible wisdom he may obtain or learn from elders who give him valuable advice. Such as King Hrothgar, "Pay no heed to proud thoughts, famous champion. Now the flowering of you strength is but for a while" (52.1759-1780). The king advises the "champion" to not give into pride and personal fame. He will achieve higher fame by showing humility and wisdom. Experience of life teaches wisdom so Beowulf may be forgiven early in his life, but his foolish quest for immortality shows that he still has much to learn toward the middle of his life. King Hrothgar also advises him in the issue of achieving immortality. Everyone dies; a hero has a moment of life when he is recognized as a great man. Time does not stand still, and yet another moment comes to pass with a different hero as its greatest. Hrothgar tries to tell him that his strength is not capable of holding off Death, to stop being so proud and wiser. His great and wise actions will be remembered in stories and songs for centuries to come and this will be how he will win immortality. Beowulf eventually achieves kingly wisdom by realizing his quest of immortality is a foolish one, he goes into battle with the dragon knowing he might not survive. At this point in his life, he has come to accept reality and his mortality.
The epic of Beowulf is not one with a happy ending. We see the destiny of a young, fierce warrior enfold. He achieves fame by using his physical strength and he achieves wisdom by life experience. He is a great warrior primarily because of his super human strength, but he also displays loyalty to his friends. He is in turn a great king because he has gained the respect of his men. He does appear foolish when he discards King Hrothgar's advice of immortality, yet he finally does gain the wisdom and perhaps not too late. Beowulf eventually dies, so the story is realistic to this fact. Yet, one of the lessons of this story reminds us that nobody is excluded from one of the conditions of life, and that is death.

Works Cited Page
Anonymous. Medieval Epics. Trans. William Alfred. New York: Random House, Inc., 1963.