Beowulf and Dexter: the Similarities Between the Iconic Warrior and the Modern Serial Killer

Throughout history, the human state, from warriors to bourgeoisie to lonely hearts to the common web surfer, is drawn to a story line which characterizes a hero overcoming a seemingly insurmountable villain. This comforting theme repeatedly surfaces under different guises with the natural inclination to value good over evil, a longing reliably fulfilled with the happy ending guaranteed by many romantic, dramatic, and comedic efforts. Beowulf, from the eighth century epic poem entitled “Beowulf,” and Dexter, from the twenty-first century hit show Dexter,  encompass the heroic features that audiences universally enjoy. While each are perceived differently from their fellow compatriots, the confluence of their similarities have transcended time as there are many parallels between their life stories. Both heros constitute a similar purpose among their societies as they act as a shield to mayhem and share many attributes that correlate to a common essence. 

        Beowulf and Dexter are analogous in their societal roles as they ultimately strive to create more concord and happiness within their respective communities. Both characters kill the members of each society who have been deliberately strumming up havoc. Beowulf prevails against the wicked Grendel and his mother, both of whom have been murdering Heorot's citizens, and ultimately rids the city of these calamity-inducing demons. His modern counterpart, Dexter, emulates Beowulf's extermination as he kills the societal hellions in his contemporary Florida town. Similarly, when conducting a “battle,” both exhibit a form of confidence and control over their pray. Dexter has mastered the art of murdering his fellow serial killers, and he executes his hobby with a grace and systematic flair as he is able to catch even the most cunning,  proving himself to be the most successful serial killer. Beowulf mirrors Dexter's supremacy and fortitude as he has become the connoisseur of warriors and enthralls himself in the most dangerous battles. Both perform their duties with noblesse because they operate strictly in a hands-on, one-against-one fashion. For example, while Dexter interacts with his “victims” and   physically takes their life with his own two hands without the assistance of a firearm, Beowulf puts himself in the same position as he sheds his protective gear. Beowulf states the following, “ I hereby renounce sword and the shelter of the broad shield, the heavy war-board: hand-to-hand is how it will be, a life-and-death fight with the fiend.”  However, while Beowulf is labeled a noble warrior, Dexter considers himself a damaged psychopathic. These epithets are strictly circumstantial to the belief systems of the time periods, and they lack validity when both are compared on a broader scope of their role within their given societies. While the moralities have evolved, granted the eighth century's reliance on killing and today's prevalent belief that killing is fundamentally unethical, both Beowulf and Dexter are killing the same type of villains and are thus playing corresponding roles within the grand scheme of their communities, regardless of the terminology used to describe their personas.  

         Further, both Beowulf and Dexter have key nuances that make them anomalies within society, have a shared reliance on the butchery of vile beings, and have developed parallel relationships with paternalistic figures. While Dexter often mentions how he is not normal due to his natural disposition and his thirst to murder people, Beowulf deviates from normalcy as he has the strength of thirty men in one arm. These distinctions connect Beowulf and Dexter as societal exceptions and links them together as destined to murder. Moreover, each rely on killing to satisfy the essence of who they are. While Dexter physically craves hunting other serial killers, Beowulf too craves the fame and satisfaction that stems from his killing demons and other malicious creatures. Murdering thus fulfills both their individual complexes and is the vehicle through which they become complete. Additionally, Dexter and Beowulf develop relationships with fatherly figures who act as mentors. While Dexter is unable to sustain empathetic relationships, his foster father nurtured Dexter and taught him how to cater his need to kill towards positive endeavors. Thus, Dexter often recounts his father's wisdom and cherishes his advise. Similarly, Hrothgar acts as Beowulf's coach as he cautions the “'flower of warriors'” against arrogance and greed, and thinks that “he could not help being overcome: his fondness for the man was so deep-founded, it warmed his heart and wound the heartstrings tight in his breasts.” 

        It is important to highlight the basic parallels between Beowulf and Dexter as it clearly evinces the preservation and continuation of Beowulf's character. Dexter not only mirrors Beowulf's function as society's protective armor against villainous beings, but he also emulates many of his basic attributes in many ways. FINISH CONCLUSION.