Your Inner 'Wulf

BY: COURTNEY R.

Beowulf, a creature of many aspects ,that quarrels with both fiends and his ego, who, in this world could ever compare to such a being? Hmm, I know, the American teenager. No we don't slay animalistic creatures but we do battle with our own demons. Some may come from the outside world while others can lie dormant in our household. However, we obtain the strength of Beowulf to endure these challenges. Just like him, sometimes we have to learn the hard way that our actions have reactions. Something that might've sounded like a good idea at the time might turn out to be a HUGE mistake. Of course killing Grendel was great but little did he know the rest of his family would be after him to avenge the death of their loved one.
Teenagers as well as Beowulf have an immense amount of self reliability. In our minds we can do and/or figure out everything on our own. We are often are misled to believe that we don't need any one's help. For example, adolescents usually ranging in ages of 16-19 feel like they are no longer in need of their mother's aid. In one breath we can go from not needing her help to realizing that we actually do. Beowulf on the other hand used his comrades only  as decoys in many of his battles simply because he didn't feel as though their help was needed. His thoughts were, I can do this by myself, but he was sadly mistaken. In The Last Battle, he was in dire need  of his mens' assistance. But only one stood there to support him, Wigalf.
Minors have friends and Mr. 'Wulf had followers. But at some point in our lives we both discover that some are just temporary. Eventually, the bad ones will become transparent  and we'll see that their just not who they appeared to be. Or they'll leave when you need them the most because it's just not "convenient" for them. Which is something Beowulf knows all too well.
Lastly, we grow up and move on from the things that used to seem so important to us which in the end really served no purpose..at all! Teens want to be popular; they want to be liked so bad that their willing to sacrifice their true identity. Beowulf,  wanted gold and all these riches so he consumed his life with fighting anything and everything in his path. Soon, we both realize that being yourself is better than being liked and when you die, you leave just how you came, alone. Maybe we both could've learned something from one another because if you think about we are both one in the same.

Sincerely, A Teenage 'Wulf