How was Unferth a good son and a bad son to Hrothgar?
1) Unferth, just as Beowulf, was not son of Hrothgar. Unferth was only a thane of Hrothgar, which means “an attendant, servant, retainer, or official in Early Medieval Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon culture.” http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/beowulf/charlist.html 2) “Hroðgar was married to a woman named Wealhþeow, who was a Helming, probably defining her as a relative of Helm, the ruler of the Wulfings. When Hroðgar welcomes Beowulf, he recalls his friendship with Beowulf’s family. He met Beowulf’s father Ecgþeow “when I first ruled the Danes” after the death of Heorogar; he laments Heorogar’s fall (“He was better than I!”) and recalls how he settled Ecgþeow’s blood feud with the Wulfings. Hroðgar thanks God for Beowulf’s arrival and victory over Grendel, and swears to love Beowulf like a son.” So Beowulf became the symbolic son of Hrothgar. 3) “The poem introduces Hroðulf (Hrólfr Kraki in Scandinavian sources) as Hroðgar’s supporter and right-hand man; and we learn that Hro
