Gender, God and Glory

So for my English 291 British Literature class we are reading Beowulf and Judith and I decided to examine the gender portrayals through a religious lens.  My teacher put forth the following thesis…Although Judith and Grendel’s Mother embodies similar masculine qualities, their feminine characterization is nonetheless polarized. This polarization correlates with their relationship to Christianity. I found pieces of evidence in the texts to look at both points of view and thought I would bullet point what I found for you.

Background

Both were included in the same 10^th Century Manuscript

Both were by Christian authors

Written within the same historical and cultural context

“Females were to be protected, secured, bartered, and exchanged…Women warriors were titillating phantoms from a re-imagined and very distant past.” (Bitel).

Feminine Qualities of Grendel’s Mother

“looks like a woman”- 1351

She’s a mother

Feminine Qualities of Judith

“elfin beauty” -14

“illustrious maiden” -43

“braided locks”, “adorned with bracelets, decorated with rings”-78, 36

Always referred to as a woman or maiden

Uses powers of seduction

Masculine Qualities in Grendel’s Mother

Follows Heroic Tradition

Exacts the blood-price

“driven to avenge her kinsman’s death” -1340

“has taken up the feud” -1333

 Exhibits Strength

“she rose quickly and retaliated,/grappled him tightly in her firm embrace.” -1541-42

 Powerful

Solitary ruler of “her court”

Fights with “bare-faced defiance”

Judith’s Masculine Qualities

Killing of Holofernes -98-111

Physical prowess and unflinching determination

Gory description

Dominant, acting character

 Heroic Tradition

“Judith had won illustrious glory/in the battle”-122-123

Received armor as an award and “more illustrious treasures than any man.” -129

“daring maiden”-134

Grendel’s Mother’s Connection to Christianity

Associated with the Devil, she is called a “demon” and a “monstrous hell-bride.”-1378,1259.

Subhuman: she “pounced” on her victims.

Descendant of Cain, who chose to serve the Devil over God.

God was not on her side although she was avenging her son.

“Holy God decided the victory.”-1553

Judith’s Connection to Christianity

An Israelite woman with a relationship with God

“holy maiden,” “Lord’s woman.”

Attributes her victory to God

“thanks to the Lord of hosts, who had given her…the reward of victory… because she possessed true faith in the Almighty.”

Conclusion

Grendel’s Mother’s ambiguous gender traits correlate to her connection to fallen religious characters such as Cain. Judith’s femininity is accentuated by her relationship with God. Within this manuscript, a female can be a warrior, with masculine qualities, and still have a feminine portrayal only if she exhibits a strong connection to Christianity.