Essential Question #3

Wealtheow is the most prominent woman in the poem, Beowulf. That may be a substantial role in any other text, but in Beowulf, that means next to nothing. She is one of a very small group of women that are mentioned in the poem centered around a patriarchal society. Women in this society are treated so poorly that they are more servants than spouses. Women such as Wealtheow accepted their role in society as "that proud woman greeted the men in the hall, then offered them the cup to the Danish king first of all." (606-607). Her role as a queen is to simply do whatever is necessary to help the kingdom be successful. While she does have her own personal beliefs as she is described as, "excellent in mind," (615) being a woman, she is stripped of all opportunities because of her gender and I do not expect to see too much of her in the poem.