Comitatas

When pondering the idea of Comitatas I find myself asking, " what would I have done, I presented with the same curcumstances, and decision?". At first I was utterly perplexed as to what the right decision may or may not have been, but upon further review of the exact definition of what exactly Comitatas is, and was in that time period, I feel beowulfs men had an epic failure.

Now I say this boldy because I believe that Beowulf could not have made it to his final climactic battle without his men's aid, and help throughout the story. If they started this epic journey, and battle together, they should Finnish it together as one single unit of courage and nobility. The simple fact and point I'm trying to make here is that no matter what your bold, and perhaps big headed leader may tell you, it is your job as a soldier, and a friend to help your leader out when he is facing almost certain death. Screw what he tells you, his decision making skills are probably flawed, and skewed already because of the horrors he is about to face. You are his loyal soldiers, and under Comitatas you owe your leader your loyalty, and life for that matter.

If it was me, I would have come to my homies aid immediately, without question. So what if he's big, tough, and slays monsters in his spare time, he's obviously still mortal despite what he's previous deeds may suggest about immortality. The point is, their leader Beowulf was in danger, they knew it, he knew it, and they chose to dip out on him. That's messed up. Even wiglaf agrees with me on that one, there was a clear breach of Comitatas, or the warrior leader contract if you will.

Screw politics, screw emotions, and screw curcumstances, Comitatas is till death do us part, and their leader died because of there lack of respect for the law of Comitatas. Beowulf could have ended on a way better note, but I also think Christian influence had a hell of a lot to do with the ending but ats a whole other subject, and blog post in itself.


Peace out see y'all in class