Thursday, October 4, 2012
Wealtheow's Internal Monologue
During my time at Hart I've become quite the effective moderater. Even before I came here I stabilized the feud between my dear brother Hygmod and Hrothgar. Coming here at first was extremely difficult, I'll admit, but I believe I have found an importance place here at Hart. Now I feel as though my job is to maintain harmony between my newly acquired tribe. Life, after all, is all about balance. Although I miss my brother and the Helmings dearly, I have finally grown somewhat accustomed to life with Hrothgar. He is strong-willed and stubborn, but ever since the attacks the fire in his eyes that once was diminishes by the day. Although my grace has been said to cast spells over others, my presence has no power to cure Hrothgar's anxieties. He won't talk to me about his emotions, but I can tell by his tensed brow and somber expression that he is deeply tormented. Alas, I have no power to console his woes. Every day I pray for Grendel to leave us alone, so the ferocity and passion will return to my beloved husband. I dream of the day where the people of Hart can live in peace.
I also sense a deep disturbance within poor, orphaned Hrothulf. He such a gentile, quiet boy but I sense something, to be it into simple terms, different about him. Sometimes I watch him as he sleeps. At times his sleeping face is serene, like an undisturbed stream, but other times I can tell he's in the midst of a terrible nightmare. During times like these I feel as though I should wake him, but for some reason I cannot bring myself to. I cannot even fathom what he dreams about considering his past, but unfortunately I know that his troubles are far from over. Although I try to make him feel as accepted as my own two sons, he knows as well as I do that he is not the same as them. One days my babes, the ones in which Hrothulf treated as his brothers, will have supremacy and rulership over him. He does not acknowledge this of course, in fact he barely speaks at all. While other boys his age are roughhousing, fighting, or courting, he prefers to either be alone, or in the company of an old man I know to be named Ork. Although the relationship is strange, I'm glad he has found at least some companionship. I doubt that Hrothgar knows, for he's too consumed with his own issues.
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I really like this. It's very poetic, and I think it embodies the tone and speech we would expect to actually hear from Wealtheow if she had spoken more in the book. I like your mention of Grendel, and how you connected his terrorism and Hrothgar's unhappiness. Although the tone of your post is more hopeful for Wealtheow in the first paragraph, in the second I can tell that she is still all the worried (mostly about Hrothulf), and I like the ambiguity of the feelings I sense here. The second paragraph really plays on her goodness and caring nature. Good job :)
ReplyDeleteAh, Wealteow, the kind, motherly soul. I enjoyed your take on her inclinations; it is almost the opposite of India's. It is pleasant to read an interpretation of Wealtheow as happy and driven to help her people as opposed to depressed and resentful. Hrothgar's removal (emotionally) is also a pretty interesting interpretation -- I'm assuming you based it off of the scene where the queen's brother visits? Hrothgar's assumption of guilt and resigning to being removed emotionally is almost given with this interpretation, but the concept that Wealtheow would care (and quite a lot, at that) is inventive.
ReplyDeleteVery nice job playing up her empathy and ability to intuit other's feelings, especially of sadness. A good series of entries so far. Keep going.
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