The Values of Germanic, Pagan, and Christian Cultures Created Hero’s and Heroine's
For a person to live a virtuous life, he or she would have to live a life of moral excellence. Socrates best describes living a just life when he writes that every person can live an honorable life if they do their duties skillfully. The epic poem, Beowulf, is a myth about the heroic battles between Beowulf and his opponents. His virtuous life illustrates the values of his Pagan culture and is similar to that of Charlemagne’s life and his values in the Frankish culture. Einhard’s Life of Charles the Great depicts the life of the righteous Charlemagne. Charlemagne, also known as Charles the Great, and Beowulf both portray heroism through armed conflict, while in the story of St. Perpetua, Saints Perpetua and Felicitas are viewed as heroines through martyrdom. Their act of martyrdom shows the values of the Christian culture during the third century. Beowulf, Charlemagne, Perpetua and Felicitas all lived a virtuous life and their lives reflect the values of Pagan, Frankish, and Christian cultures, respectively. Charles the Great’s life reflects the values of Frankish culture in three ways. He respects the honor of friendship, believes in leading his people in all aspects of their lives, and most importantly, credits the importance of family relationship. Einhard writes about Charlemagne with the utmost respect and says, “The care that King Charles bestowed upon me in my childhood, and my constant friendship with himself and his children after I took up my abode at court. In this way he strongly endeared me to himself, and made me greatly his debtor as well in death as in life” (Geary, p 282). Here Einhard states that Charlemagne was a close friend to him and for this he is in debt. Another passage that shows Charlemagne’s emphasis on friendship is when the Romans injured Pope Leo III and Charles the Great goes to consult them of the matter. It writes, “The Romans had inflicted many injuries upon the Pontiff Leo, tearing out his eyes and cutting out his tongue, so