Season 4 -- Episode 3; Wealhtheow and Hrothgar

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Reporter: Welcome to The Kings of Beowulf, today, as always, we will open with a poem.

 

Wealhtheow:

This is the time     that we will use

To poetically present    a podcast intro.

Packed with past    and present information,

Our best broadcast     yet bonds

Two time periods    through analyses that

Contain certain    kings and queens.

Hrothgar has a    healthy role, as

Well as Wealhtheow,    whom we plan

To interview, if you     are interested.

Our podcast plans     to plot out

The relations that    the Anglo Saxon

Royals really had,     and recognize that we

Can connect them    to current times.

Feel free to have    fun listening to

Our observations    of the Beowulf royalty.

 

 

 

 

Reporter: Welcome to the third episode of season 4 of The Kings of Beowulf! Today, we’re questioning whether the relationship between Anglo Saxon kings and queens was truly one of equality. To help us answer this question, we have Hrothgar, king of the Danes and Wealhtheow, Hrothgar’s Queen.

 

Hrothgar:  Hey

Wealhtheow: Hello

 

Reporter: Hrothgar, Wealhtheow, we’re glad to have you here today.

 

Hrothgar:  It’s our pleasure. How can we assist you in learning about our culture?

 

Reporter: We were actually hoping to discuss the relationship between you two today. We heard through the grapevine that you two have been going through a bit of a rough patch, so to speak.

 

Hrothgar:  Well, you heard wrong, of course. My queen and I are quite contented now that the demon Grendel and his mother are dead.

Wealhtheow: Indeed, quite content.

 

Reporter: Well, I’m glad to hear that. Would you two mind answering a few questions?

 

Hrothgar:  Not at all.

 

Reporter: Wealhtheow?

 

Wealhtheow: Me? Of course, whatever Hrothgar is all right with.

 

Reporter: ….. Okay, then….

Reporter: Could you two tell us how you met?

 

Hrothgar:  Of course. I first met Wealhtheow at a feast. She was the daughter of one of my thanes. She served me a drink. She looked so beautiful with her fair hair and skin. I told her father, Fisule, that I simply had to have her. I offered him gold, food, armor, whatever he desired in exchange for making her my wife. He only asked that I cherish her beauty and keep her safe. I hope I have done just that.

 

Reporter: Thank you. Wealhtheow, Hrothgar is quite a bit older than you. How do you feel about that?

 

Hrothgar:  Well, I…

Wealhtheow: Could I be honest with you?

 

Reporter: Please do.

 

Wealhtheow: I don’t particularly like it. I feel quite uncomfortable with it, some days.

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Hrothgar:  Wealhtheow!

 

Reporter: Now now, Hrothgar, this is a safe space. It sounds like your wife is a little unhappy with your relationship. Let’s take a look at a couple of quotes from Beowulf to see if her feelings are justified.

 

Reporter: This quote is from lines 612-618, and says, “Wealhtheow came in, Hrothgar’s queen, observing the courtesies. Adorned in her gold, she graciously saluted the men in hall, then handed the cup first to Hrothgar, their homeland’s guardian, urging him to drink deep and enjoy it because he was dear to them.”

 

Reporter: Wealhtheow, this quote refers to you as “Hrothgar’s queen”, as if you are his possession. Do you feel like this is the case?

 

Wealhtheow: I….. Hm. I do, of course. Wives are not equal to their husbands, queens are not equal to their kings. This is how it is.

 

Reporter: And how do you feel about that?

 

Wealhtheow: It’s the only reality I’ve ever known. I don’t necessarily like it, but it is what it is.

Hrothgar:  Yes, it is. Queens are meant to serve and respect their kings.

 

Reporter: You bring up an interesting point, Hrothgar. There are a few quotes from Beowulf that suggest Wealhtheow here, no disrespect meant, is not much more than a glorified servant.

 

Reporter: For example, let’s take a listen to a quote from lines 620-628. It says, “So the Helming woman went on her rounds, queenly and dignified, decked out in rings, offering the goblet to all ranks, treating the household and the assembled troop until it was Beowulf’s turn to take it from her hand. With measured words she welcomed the Geat and thanked God for granting her wish that a deliverer she could believe in would arrive to ease their afflictions”

 

Reporter: Wealhtheow, would you agree that you are often treated as a servant who people like hearing from and seeing, but not really listening to or respecting?

 

Wealhtheow: I do feel as though, despite the speeches everyone likes for me to give about heroes or our king, my opinion on other matters isn’t valued. I always felt like my husband was of a different class, but I never really shared that with anyone.

 

Reporter: That’s interesting. Hrothgar, do you have anything to say?

 

Hrothgar:  Women are treated this way for their safety! They cannot fight, or rule, so of course we would do anything to keep them safe. They bear our children, after all!

 

Reporter: Uh… well…

 

Reporter: We have a couple more quotes to discuss with the two of you, if that’s all right.

 

Hrothgar:  I don’t--

 

Wealhtheow: Of course, that would be fine.

 

Reporter: Great! We have a few quotes to tie everything together

 

Reporter: Lines 639 to 641 read, “This formal boast by Beowulf the Geat pleased the lady well and she went to sit by Hrothgar, regal and arrayed with gold.” This is not the only instance in which Wealhtheow’s rich attire is mentioned. In one of our earlier quotes, it is mentioned that she is “decked out in rings”. Lines 1162-1165 also mention Wealtheow wearing gold, saying, “Then Wealtheow came forth, walking in a golden neck-ring to where the good pair sat, uncle and nephew; then their kinship was still together, each to the other true.”

 

Reporter: Wealhtheow, it seems that you are often appreciated in much the same way a fruit platter that someone brought to a party is appreciated.

 

Wealhtheow: I’m.... sorry?

 

Reporter: A fruit platter. You know, a big tray full of grapes and apples and crackers.

 

Wealhtheow: Yes, I know what a fruit platter is. Why am I like a big tray full of apples and grapes?

 

Reporter: Well, a fruit platter looks nice, and people admire it, and like eating the food. But the appreciation and admiration isn't directed at the fruit platter so much as the person who brought it. It seems that your situation is similar to that of the fruit platter.

 

Wealhtheow: Oh. Interesting. It… it certainly does correlate.

 

Hrothgar: Be that as it may, this is the way our people work. Wealhtheow has never been unhappy with this before.

 

Wealhtheow: Hrothgar's is correct, this is how it works. But that doesn't make it right.

 

Reporter: Hm. Are you unhappy with this? Do you want to change it?

 

Hrothgar:  My wife may seem discontented, but I assure you, we are quite happy. Perhaps she feels emboldened by this modern company.

 

Wealhtheow: Do not speak as though I’m not here, Hrothgar! I can speak for myself!

 

Hrothgar:  When did you become so disrespectful, Wealhtheow? You never used to speak against me so!

 

Wealhtheow: I was all right with my situation, but I’m beginning to realize that the way I’m treated is not fair at all.

 

Hrothgar:  Life isn’t fair!

 

Wealhtheow: That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to make it as fair as possible! And the way I’m treated is in no way okay. If I want to speak out about it, I will!

 

Reporter: Okay everyone, let's calm down now.

 

Hrothgar:  She’s the one who's not calm!(Shouting)

 

Wealhtheow: I am so calm! What are you talking about!? (Clearly not calm)

 

Reporter: Right, of course, everyone's calm here, obviously. Anyway, back to what we were discussing earlier, Wealtheow it seems you were decked out in some pretty luxurious items, stating specifically that Hrothgar bought you a golden “neck-ring”. Neck Ring? Is that a typo?

 

Wealhtheow: Not at all. A neck ring is a formal piece of jewelry and they are normally incredibly expensive. I thank Hrothgar for giving me such luxuries, but I still stand firm on my opinion that he hasn’t been the best of husbands. I feel like he thinks of me only as someone who is here to provide. Yes, he does give me lots of luxuries but the one thing I want, to be treated as equal, is the one thing he’ll never give me.

 

Hrothgar: Honey, you know that I’ll always love you. But this is how our society’s been for years! It’s not my place to disrupt that. And it certainly isn’t yours.

 

Reporter: Now, my next question may be a little out of your element, but roll with me. So we understand that this is hundreds of years ahead of you but what do you think of how women are treated now, compared to your time period.

 

Hrothgar: You know, I was just going to talk about that. I really don’t think the women are capable of handling the power that comes with having such, such, uh... power and social responsibility. 

 

Wealhtheow: I think that the women of this time period are fortunate to have the freedoms that the women of my time do not. They are not treated as possessions or, as you say, “fruit platters”. Some people do still see them this way, sadly, but for the most part, they’re able to explore their inner being as much as they want to. They are not nearly as limited as they were back in my day. With the rights to vote, hold office, and be considered important members of society, their voices and opinions are finally being listened to and respected.

 

Reporter: I really agree with you on this Wealhtheow. Now, what I’m sure everyone wants to hear, is Hrothgar’s opinion on this matter.

 

Hrothgar: Ah, I was just about to jump in. I think it, I umm.. Uhh..  You know... Wealhtheow? I’m a little parched. Bring me a pint of mead, would you?

 

Wealhtheow: Sure.

 

Wealhtheow: Oops... I do that a lot. Or, I will….

 

Reporter: Well then.. That concludes episode 3 of season 4 of The Kings of Beowulf. Thank you so much to our wonderful guests, Hrothgar and Wealhtheow for joining us today.

 

Hrothgar:  Oh. yeah. 

Wealhtheow: You’re very welcome!

 

Reporter: Our producer is Jennifer Clark Evans. Our sound engineer is Keegan Goodwin. Our script writers are Quinn Ragsdale and Henry Millar. Thank you to all our supporters on Patreon and youtube. And be sure to like, comment, and subscribe for all the future episodes of The Kings of Beowulf!