The Depiction of Loyalty in "Beowulf", “Count on Me”, and "The Death of General Warren"

Introduction

In any prosperous relationship or community, whether it be King Hrothgar’s kingdom or United States citizens under the President, there is one quality that all of its people must have to prevent the collapse of harmony: Loyalty. Three examples include Beowulf, an Old English epic poem assumed to be written by an unknown Christian monk, “Count on Me”, a song written by Bruno Mars, and The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker's Hill, June 17, 1775, a painting by John Trumbull. Beowulf follows the heroic deeds of the mighty warrior Beowulf and his perilous fights against supernatural beasts for peace in the land. “Count on Me” tells a story about being a faithful friend that can be counted on through the ups and downs of life in an upbeat, rhythmic manner. Finally, the painting done by John Trumbull depicts an American General stopping a British soldier’s bayonet; who was doing so out of revenge for his fallen commander shown in the painting in the arms of two other redcoats; from stabbing the already mortally wounded Warren. This essay will analyze the depiction of loyalty in Beowulf, “Count on Me”, and 'The Death of General Warren' through the use tone, imagery, and hyperbole.

“Count on Me” and Beowulf: Loyalty

The compelling use of two distinct, yet powerful tones employed by both Beowulf and “Count on Me” aptly highlights the idea of loyalty. In Beowulf, after receiving the message from King Hrothgar about a beast who has been terrorizing the people of Denmark, the epic hero rushes from Geatland to purge the evil from the land. While making a “request” to slay the savage responsible for countless murders, Beowulf’s dignity and nobility shines seemingly. He states, “I have heard,/ Too, that the monster’s scorn of men/ Is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none./ Nor will I. My lord Higlac/ Might think less of me if I let my sword/ Go where my feet were afraid to…” (166-171). Despite hearing the terrifying stories on Grendel’s immense power, the noble warrior still chooses to fight without a weapon because his opponent does not use one, for his king, Higlac, may think less of him. Through a stern style of language and a humbling approach to the dialogue, Beowulf expresses his dependable character. In “Count on Me”, Bruno Mars sings along to an upbeat and peaceful strumming of guitar as he conveys his faithfulness to a friend in a rhythmic fashion. He sings, “You can count on me like one, two , three, I'll be there/ And I know when I need it I can count on you like four three two/ You'll be there/ 'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah”(Stanza three lines 9-11). Mars has an optimistic style of singing and upbeat guitar playing in the background to express a sense of jubilance.

Beowulf and “Count on Me” shed light on how faithfulness can be the driving power of bonds in a relationship and how it is easy to accomplish tasks if there is someone that can be trusted. Although both works utilize two almost contrasting tones, the readers and listeners still have a clear interpretation on the identical idea of loyalty.

Furthermore, hyperboles are utilized in both Beowulf and “Count on Me” to magnify the optimistic effects of loyalty on a society. In Beowulf, while Higlcac’s follower is on the verge of defeat with the evil dragon, Wiglaf expresses his dismay before entering the battle and coming to Beowulf’s aid. “An Wiglaf, his heart heavy, uttered/ The kind words his comrades deserved...And we must go to him, while angry Flames burn at his flesh,/ help Our glorious king!” (706-725). The term “his heart heavy” illustrates the sadness Wiglaf had when witnessing his king getting beat. However, this urged him to go to his king’s protection and eventually defeat the dragon. In”Count on Me”, while letting his friend know that he will always be there for him, Bruno says “You'll always have my shoulder when you cry/ I'll never let go” in stanza nine. Obviously, he can not give his friend his shoulder and never let go, but by saying this he shows that he is faithful and that with friendship they can get through anything. Both the singer and writer express the idea of how, with loyalty, they will be able to conquer all and get back up no matter how life hits them.

Loyalty in Beowulf and 'The Death of General Warren'

Lastly, the idea of loyalty is witnessed in the artistic ventures of both Beowulf and The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker's Hill, June 17, 1775. Both works allow the reader to visualize and paint an image in their heads on the physical embodiment of loyalty. In Beowulf, the theme of faithfulness is portrayed when Wiglaf retrieves the riches from the dragon’s cave to bury Beowulf. Wiglaf “...entered the inner darkness of the tower, went with his mail shirt and his sword. Flushed with victory… suddenly saw piles of gleaming gold, precious gems, scattered on the floor, cups And bracelets…” (766-773). The gallant image of a Wiglaf creeping into the depths of the dragon’s cave to retrieve riches for Beowulf’s death bed portrays that he will do anything for him. Additionally, the painting of The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker's shows a background filled with smoke, bloodshed, and violent flames. Many red coats cover the picture General Warren and his comrade stand out in the red because they wear white and exemplifies a type of hope. It highlights the trustworthy aspects between the soldiers as someone tries to help General Warren. The artist and writers both use a plethora of symbolic colors to symbolize, both in the image and in literary works, to shed light on the admirable actions of characters helping and being loyal to one another.

Conclusion

By utilizing vivid imagery, distinct tones, and effective hyperboles, the artists in the works above are able to display the pinnacle of what it means to be loyal and its effects. The Old English poem Beowulf, the modern song “Count on Me”, and The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker's Hill, June 17, 1775, a painting by John Trumbull all express this idea through said methods. Through different works of media, both modern and historical, the theme of loyalty highlights the fact that it is needed in order to develop a well-rounded and established society or relationship. Faithfulness is a must for a civilization to flourish and causes others to act selflessly. By implementing loyalty in forms of literature, images, and songs, artists are able to inspire and show others of its significance in any sort of relationship, whether it be between two people or thousands of people.