During the time period in which The Wanderer was written, the Anglo-Saxons were torn between the familiar pagan beliefs they have always followed; and the new hope that the Christian philosophy had brought of an afterlife. Fate and Fame were the main principles of the Anglo-Saxon philosophy, and the men of that time believed that these two values controlled their lives, “No weary mind may stand against Weird nor may a wrecked will work new hope; wherefore, most often, those eager for fame bind the dark mood fast in their breasts” (16-19). In this quote the speaker relays the belief that no man could do anything about his fate. If he tried, he would probably lose his life. Although, if one was able to change his fate it meant that he would have to be courageous and brave, because to alter ones’ fate meant going through many physically challenging struggles. Since the Anglo-Saxons did not believe in an afterlife, they wanted to be remembered on Earth as strong and courageous; therefore many Anglo-Saxons felt fame on Earth was worth dying for. Anglo-Saxons relied on the material things for support. This is why the comitatus was such a large part of Anglo-Saxon life. The lord of a comitatus would care for his warriors; while he allowed them to dine in his mead halls. Also, if a warrior was loyal enough to his lord, he would be rewarded with riches and treasures. So if Christianity was true, then the glory of Fame and earthy materials held no value, which was a basic foundation in their pagan traditions.
Anglo-Saxons relied heavily on comitatus for support, and when the speaker of the poem loses all his kinsmen, he feels lost and alone, “So I must also curb my mind, cut off from country, from kind far distant, by cares overworn, bind it in fetters; this since long ago, the ground’s shroud enwrapped my gold-friend” (20-24). This line shows how the narrator of the poem tries not to think about what happened. He relied on his kinsmen for everything, they were his support. The lives of the Anglo-Saxons were usually burdened and miserable, and when Christianity was introduced, it brought a more hopeful outlook on life. The speaker of the poem seems to struggle with both faiths, trying to understand why he suffers in life, and if it is possible to be rewarded for his suffering in an afterlife. His struggle can be seen in the opening lines of the poem, when he still holds on to both religions: “Who liveth alone longeth for mercy, Maker’s mercy. Though he must traverse tracts of sea, sick of sea, sick of heart, - trouble with oars ice-cold waters, the ways of exile, - Weird is set fast” (1-5). In this quote the narrator accepts Christianity as his embraces God’s love for him, but at the same time one can see that he still believes in the pagan belief of fate. He wants to believe in both religions, and maybe parts of each religion. The speaker bounces around in the poem, and cannot decide whether he wants to embrace Christianity or go back to the days of mead halls and riches. Later in the poem the narrator describes his former life, “…Where is that horse now? Where are those men? Where is the hoard-sharer? Where is the house of the feast? Where is the hall’s uproar? Alas, bright cup! Alas, burnished fighter! Alas, proud prince! How that time has passed, dark under night’s helm, as though it never had been” (95-99). This line shows how the speaker longs for the life he used to live, and the old pagan traditions he once believed in. He wants the heroic culture, even though this former life caused him to be the wandering outcast that he is.
The speaker’s struggle is never really solved. All through the poem the reader can see the narrator’s views continually switching on which religion he wants to believe in. Towards the end of the poem one senses that he concludes that Christianity is the religion he chooses to follow when he states, “So spoke the sage in his heart; he sat apart in thought. Good is he who keeps faith: nor should care too fast be out of a man’s breast before he first know the cure: a warrior fights on bravely. Well is it for him who seeks forgiveness, the Heavenly Father’s solace, in whom all our fastness stands” (104-108). This line shows how the narrator still remembers God’s eternal love for those who suffer, as well as knowing that there is a life in heaven after his earthly life. The Wanderer reflects the traditional Anglo-Saxon beliefs, as well as captures the speaker’s efforts to find the answers to his deepest questions. His faith in the Anglo-Saxon culture has been shaken, because it has not treated him well. Not only did he lose his comitatus, but it also forced him into the outcast existence that he must live. Even as he turns to Christianity for an answer and direction, he cannot help looking back fondly on the traditions that were part of him.