Existentialism as Portrayed in Beowulf and Arrow

Existentialism is the concept that each individual decides their own values, ideas, and path in life. There is no all encompassing rules that define every person the same. This philosophy is often brought into literature through character motives, actions, or beliefs. Often the character is slightly aloof from the rest of the society in either actions or values. An author would evoke existentialism in order to better define both the characters as well as the themes of the piece of literature.

In Beowulf, existentialism takes on a small role in defining Beowulf as the character he is. This is exemplified by his passage into Grendel's mother's lair. After defeating her, one would assume that Beowulf would take all of the treasure and value out of the cave. While he might not have been able to do this in one trip, Beowulf had no problems swimming the distance while carrying the head of Grendel's mother that required four men to carry, so he would have been able to retrieve all of the treasure without risk. However, Beowulf leaves with only the head of Grendel's mother and the hilt of the sword that saved him before the blade melted. Beowulf is choosing to define his victory with the good of destroying a threat rather than the bounty of gold. This runs separate from what the society often does and values, for the Kings and powerful are defined by their wealth not the gods deeds they have done. Beowulf is setting himself separate and above the society and the material that is so often valued by them. Therefore, Beowulf is being an existential individual as he defines his values separate from the societies, and he makes his own choices. This is an important characteristic to Beowulf since it defines him as a hero that stands separate from society and the common man. In this way he can be more than the common man while still remaining mortal.

In the television series Arrow, Oliver Queen lives as a vigilante. This often leads to Queen breaking the law in order to catch the criminals. For this reason, existentialism exists in the show as Queen must decide what rules of society still define him as well as rules of his own. This concept even comes up explicitly throughout the series. For example, at one point Queen vows to no longer kill anymore. This a rule that Queen is choosing to define for himself, for he has already broken this in the past. Additionally, some of Queen's companions bring up that it seems as though they get to play by a different set of rules from everyone else, and they debate whether this is just. The reaction that Queen makes to these arguments is nearly always simply walking away. This demonstrates that while it does bother Queen in some ways, Queen is choosing to define his own rules and values separate from societies. Queen is portrayed in this manner in order to set him apart from society and even from his companion. This is done to show how being the vigilante changes him and forces him to be something other than Oliver Queen. Overall, he is being an individual that is described by existentialism.