The Anglo-Saxon Belief In Christianity And Fate Essay, Research Paper
The Unity of the Unknown and the Eternal Security:
The Anglo-Saxon Belief in Christianity and Fate
Imagine a life in which one is simply a pawn at the hands of a mysterious higher
force stumbling and meandering through life’s tribulations. Until Pope Gregory the
Great was sent to spread Christianity throughout England, the Anglo- Saxons
believed solely in this passive, victimizing philosophy. These pagans still clung to
much of their heathen culture after the wave of Christianity swept through England
leaving no one behind. Literature derived from this period (including Beowulf, “The
Seafarer,” and “The Wanderer”) directly reflects the maintaining of Christian ideals, as
well as the belief in fate’s unknown and often grim path. For example, the epic poem,
Beowulf , declares, “…Fate will unwind as it must!” (line 284). Meanwhile, the same
work implies God has the authority in this great world by stating, “And all his glorious
band of Geats/Thanked God their leader had come back unharmed,” (598-599) as if
God was the deciding factor in the great protector’s health. The joining
convincedness in God and fate influences the culture, outlook on life, and the various
independent life paths of Anglo- Saxons. These early Germanic people believe
“fate”- an anonymous power – controls the present, future and past; yet, they also
believe the power of God is a resolute supremecy not to be denounced.
Our earliest warriors put aside their heroic independence and let wyrd’s foreign
agency control their views and their lives’ paths time and time again. These pagans
even allow destiny to influence their view of life which was fatalistic and desolate.
“The Wanderer” proves the Anglo-Saxons had little to live for and much to fear as it
tells the tale of an anonymous man stripped from his gold-lord. This literary work
illustrates stoic solitude and grim hopelessness by using phrases like, “…what a bitter
companion/Shoulder to shoulder sorrow can be,”(lines 26-27) and “Wretchedness
fills the realm of earth,” (98). Along with their outlook on life as a whole, fate
controls the pagans decisions and lack there of. “The Seafarer” shows an example
of the Anglo-Saxons submissive role by voicing the story of a sailor suffering through
hardships because he was meant to be a sailor and is drawn to the familiar sea. The
sailor explains his painful lifestyle by stating, “…my soul/Called me eagerly out…”
(lines 36-37) implying this harrowing lifestlye is not a conscious choice, but more
of an obligation to something other than his mind and heart. Even the bravest warrior
fell victim to this unsafe and unpredictable fortress. Beowulf, who is “…-greater/And
stronge
that “Fate has swept our race away,/Taken warriors in their strength and led them/to
the death that was waiting. And now I follow them.” (834-836). The destiny pagans
face is often sorrowful, beguiling and unfair.
While Anglo-Saxons’ lives are consistently at the mercy of destiny, they are still very
influenced by their value of Christian ideals. Although these pagans believe fate is a
force beyond their control deciding life’s every turn, they also believe loving, honoring
and obeying God will result in salvation and eternal happiness. These seemingly ‘new’
joys of God intrude their views on death, peace, humility, warfare and life in general.
Christianity eases the vicious warriors’ conduct and morale. Religious civility plays a
key role in the softening and decrease of battles. “The Seafarer” reflects the
Anglo-Saxon belief that depending on one’s religious actions, heaven is one’s
reward and death one’s punishment: “Death leaps at the fools who forget
their God./He who lives humbly has angels from Heaven/To carry him courage
and strength and belief.” (106-109). “The Wanderer” proves death was once
thought of as a grim and dark ending: “All this earth ages and droops unto death.” (57),
while “The Seafarer” conveys that death also became a hope of angelic grace:
“…strewing his coffin/With treasures intended for Heaven…” ( 97-98). Both fate and
Christianity influence the Anglo-Saxon culture, and their forces
form a hybrid of uncertainty and assurance: “Thus the joys of God/ Are
fervent with life, where life itself/ Fades quickly into the earth.”(64-66).
The Anglo-Saxon belief in God and fate influence their culture, outlook on life, and
their own independent life paths. It is possible these sometimes contradictory ideals
Pagans hold so sacred are symbols of human beings timeless desire to separate one’s
own behavior and the events of one’s life. Fate is a disinclined method of rationalizing
why things happen as they do, and a means of blaming occurances on an unrenowned
supremacy. Possibly, the Anglo-Saxons hold Christianity with such high repute
because it is the orthodox set of morals that these barbaric war-lords and lost souls
need in their lifestyle and culture. Christianity offers an incentive to those who believe
and honor the Lord- a seemingly simple exchange of faith and praise for eternal joy
and Heaven. The unity of fate and Christianity results in an explaination for usually
baffling and sometimes unfair events, as well as an eternal promise and protection
from God . Perhaps one should not invest in a fate that simply happens regardless
of how one acts, but invest in one’s actions regardless of how a fate simply happens.