Analysis The Tain, Warriors Ferdia And Cuchulainn

Often, in a morally ambiguous culture, ideologies contradict one another—however, the basis of cultural values merge these various beliefs into one cohesive creed. Throughout The Tain, ideals of the morally ambiguous culture of Ireland present the considerations of its citizens and the characteristics which possess value to them. Many of the heroes, who manage to leave behind a legacy strong enough to appear in The Tain, demonstrate themselves as worthy heroes who represent principles that the Irish hold dear. However, the two heroes, Cuchulainn and Ferdia, display the moral vagueness of Irish values and epitomize the cultural standards during the time of the epic in the greatest sense. These foster brothers, trained under the same†¦show more content†¦The characteristic of fearlessness that symbolizes Cuchulainn is made evident when he disregards his age and transforms himself to appear older when fighting warriors in Ireland. This concept exhibits fearlessness becau se Cuchulainn, a seventeen-year-old, with no beard (a way of displaying age and manliness in Ireland during this time period) engages in single combat with some of the strongest and greatest warriors of his time. Ferdia, in comparison to Cuchulainn, demonstrates many of the same qualities, yet is not regarded in as high regards to the all-mighty warrior. Ferdia represents integrity and trustworthiness but also shares the quality of fearlessness. The representation of integrity, through Ferdia’s battle with Cuchulainn, portrays the importance of truthfulness in the Irish at the time of this epic. This ideal of integrity, symbolized by Ferdia, can be noticed when Ferdia, knowingly battles Cuchulainn in Cuchulainn’s fiercest state, never cheating, and abiding by all the rules set out for him in the warrior code of honor. Ferdia states â€Å"By the way of deceit no good can come† which represents his belief and the belief of the Irish people that manipulation and deceit serve no ability to enable good in the world (197). This showcases the ideology of the Irish people being one that appreciates a person’s honesty rather than their ability to win a battle. Ferdiaâ€℠¢s trustworthiness is unquestionable when he holds his promise to Queen Medb in a higherShow MoreRelatedEssay on Heroes of Celtic and Germanic Mythology3702 Words   |  15 Pagesand Germanic mythology exhibited similar characteristics regardless of whether or not they were Anglo-Saxon, Rhenish, or Irish. Indeed, there are many parallels between the behaviors demonstrated by the heroes of Beowulf, the Nibelungenlied, and the Tain Bo Cuailnge. Some of the most striking of these parallels are: the noble and divine lineage of the hero; the hero’s increased endurance and his exceptional combat abilities (including the use of powerful weapons and berserker behavior); the hero’s