At a time in history when warfare was rampant and the conquest of lands and enemies seemed a priori, the hero of the period tended to follow suit. Beowulf, as an early example of Old English literature, is set in this highly male-dominated world governed by violence, honor, and fate. The role of women in this world also follows a clear pattern: chattels to be used as marriage tokens to unite warring tribes in order to achieve peace, or Madonnas to be placed on a pedestal and worshiped from afar. Men tend to occupy both the literature and thought of the Old English world, while women rarely see themselves in the role of heroes. Therefore, characters such as Grendel's mother, Thrith, and Welthow in Beowulf fall victim to the lens of misogyny used to view women in Old English literature, as their strength is seen as negligible, portrayed from the perspective of men. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Grendel's mother is a clear example of this misogynistic view. A hideous monster, he descends upon Herot in a frenzy of grief and rage, seeking revenge for the death of his son Grendel. “He brooded over his loss, misery had ripened/ In his heart, that female horror, Grendel's mother?” (ll. 1258-1260). Claire A. Lees, in her essay At a Crossroads: Old English and Feminist Criticism, emphasizes that "as far as Anglo-Saxon society [?] is concerned the lives of the women we know are linked to those of their families". (Lees, 155) While men are known for their strength and cunning in war, women are recognized in relation to their family. Perhaps this is why Grendel's mother is not given a proper name, but is simply called in relation to her son. Her motivation to use her strength is also that of a grieving mother seeking revenge. She is strong enough to capture men, but her position is still that of a woman. Although she herself is a monster, she is nevertheless seen as a woman in the eyes of men, as it is written that "no woman, no matter / how fierce, could have come with the strength of a man, / fought with power and courage that men fight." with ?" (ll. 1282-4). Imbued with supernatural strength, only then could a woman achieve the strength otherwise reserved for men. However, her strength is described only in comparison to the strength of men. "Like a man but more mightier than any other man." (l. 1352) She is finally captured and killed, and "Her body fell/ To the ground, lifeless?" (ll. 1567-8). Although her strength is admitted, it is always compared to that of men and, despite everything, is inevitably conquered by a man. Thrith falls aware of the same misogyny Thrith's story only serves to highlight the positive qualities of Hygd, the wife of Higlac is presented as a positive example of correct behavior in women? She is kind, attentive to the men around her and faithful to her husband and lord, however, like Grendel's mother, she is presented by her unfeminine characteristics: But Thrith was too proud, An imperious princess with a vicious tongue And so fierce and wild that her father's followers looked away as she passed, knowing that if anyone but their king looked where she walked, her hands formed a noose to fit around their necks. (ll. 1931-7) And how great a sin it is for a woman, whether blonde or black, to create fear and destruction, for a woman, who should walk in the ways of peace, to kill with feigned insults." (ll. 1940-7) 3)Thrith is considered one, 1963