Kevin Zou, Period 7, 1/20/21

  From reading the story of “Beowulf,” legacy was touched upon in a class discussion. I found Jason’s comment that legacy can be expressed through a parent’s affection for their children to be insightful. From his commentary, I can take away that legacy is defined by oneself, and is not only discerned from other people. This is different from the approach of legacy I learned in Theater class. In Theater class, the concept of legacy is often measured by the success of a film and the awards it won. However, aside from these materialistic measures of worth, legacy can also be measured by the effort a person exerts in accomplishing a goal. 

In a parent’s case, the love a person gives a child is a form of legacy that the parent leaves after he or she leaves the world. As Jason puts it, whether the child reciprocates the parent’s love doesn’t undermine the action of the parent. In Beowulf’s case, his legacy is materialized by the statue that he wanted built after his death. The monument would be a symbol of his conquests. 

 In class, we also touched upon the meaning of Abraham Lincoln’s statue. When people think of the statue, they can remember the values that Lincoln stood for (Suyee’s comment) and the patriotism that he elicited. Legacy can be expressed in material or action. However, legacy is often defined through one’s unique human lens. Some may view Abraham Lincoln’s legacy as negative, whether others may revere the president for his actions. Even so, it is one’s experiences and backgrounds that ultimately define a person’s legacy. 

A person’s legacy is not set in stone. As the values of the generations change, the perspective of people may change towards a person. However, because there are values that are universal, some legacies remain timeless. As America is a country that values patriotism and unity, Abraham Lincoln’s legacy holds importance in American History. Because the Norse value courage, Beowulf’s legacy is relevant in Norse culture. In a parent’s case, parental love is valued by many societies, thus creating meaning in a parent’s action towards his or her child.