The Anglo-Saxon hero seeks glory by completing feats in exchange for gold. For the Anglo-Saxons, accumulating wealth is equivalent to achieving glory; Wealthow, Hrothgar's wife, best illustrates the connection when she advises Beowulf to "get richer, let your fame and your strength / go hand in hand" (1217-1219), while the ruler Shild "lived to to be rich and highly honored" (5 -6). The essence of the hero in Anglo-Saxon culture is to perform great deeds; by performing great deeds, the hero earns gold. By accumulating gold, the Anglo-Saxon hero obtains glory and his fame spreads throughout the country; Furthermore, being a hero implies a powerful ambition for more gold and glory. When Beowulf kills Grendel, he is generously rewarded, but he does not pack his bags and leave; he must go and kill Grendel's mother as another test of his strength and is once again rewarded for this. After returning to Gealand, the people offer him the kingdom, but he refuses it; the refusal represents his overwhelming drive to gain more glory, and he does so by fighting in wars and serving kings. Beowulf finally establishes himself as king and reigns for 50 years, but when the dragon arrived, he once again took up arms to defend his people and to accumulate more.