Loyalty is the act of being true to one's obligations and commitments. This feature may not be very evident in today's world; however, it is certainly prominent in Anglo-Saxon society. The model of loyal dependence is fundamental to Anglo-Saxon life. It was born from the need to protect individuals from the horrors of the enemy-infested wilderness. Loyalty, an ideal highly appreciated in the Anglo-Saxon community, can be found in numerous works written starting from that period. In the epic poem Beowulf, the author uses the characterization of women, the symbolism of Heorot Hall, and depictions of brotherly love to demonstrate that loyalty is necessary to maintain harmony within a society that is under constant threat. The characterization of women demonstrates that loyalty is essential to having a harmonious society that is continually threatened. About halfway through the poem, a minstrel performs a story for those in the Heorot Hall. The story is about the battle between Danes and Frisians. The author characterizes Hildeburh as a gift, revealing that loyalty is important to maintaining a harmonious society that is always under threat. He writes: “Finn was struck down, the queen took away, and everything that the Shieldings could find within Finn's walls - the gold collars and precious stones of the Frisian king - were carried onto the ship. Along the sea routes and then back to Denmark, the troop of warriors brought that lady home” (1153-1157:81). Here, Hildeburh acts as a mediator and remains loyal to her son and brother despite being on opposite sides. It is suggested that it is acceptable for Hildeburh to return to Denmark because, as an Anglo-Saxon woman, she knows that she must respect the rules of peacekeeping. The fact that the author does not include his reaction of returning home... middle of paper... any weapons, leaving him vulnerable, which further increases the level of loyalty he has for his king. Because Beowulf remains loyal to King Hygelac, he is able to kill Grendel. Grendel's disappearance brings about harmony in society because his twelve-year reign of terror is over. The kingdom of the Danes is at peace thanks to Beowulf's loyalty. Depictions of brotherly love show that loyalty is essential to maintaining harmony in a vulnerable community. The characterization of women, depictions of brotherly love, and the symbolism of Heorot Hall show that loyalty is vital to maintaining harmony in a society under constant attack. Loyalty is important, not only in Anglo-Saxon society, but in the world at large. Loyalty will help build trust, friendships and love. People in today's world would benefit if they learned a thing or two from the Anglo-Saxons.