The social obligations of a hero are rooted in the people the hero serves. A hero has to act with an always selfless manner, and defend the rights of the people around him or her. A hero protects the people when in danger or are hurt by injustice. The hero's role in the community is to forever exact justice and maintain peace. A hero is someone who people can rely on to give advice or help with their problems. A hero has to have the hindsight to see potential consequences or problems that may occur, and prevent them from happening. Therefore, a hero does not have to be called upon to help others, but can find their service necessary through their own judgment, as Beowulf does with Hrothgar. All in all, a hero is a caretaker for the people he or she serves.
Beowulf should be aware of his deification process, but does not let that be the motivation for his actions. With a lineage renowned for their leadership and heroism, Beowulf follows the footsteps of his great ancestors. He helps Hrothgar because he sees an injustice occurring, not to fulfill a requirement for his deification. Though he may act without regard for his deification, we see how he gathers the strongest Geats to embark on the journey to the Danes, similar to Beow's deification, in which "a young man must ensure that in later years his companions will support him, serve their prince in battle" (Line 22-24). Beowulf is also respected by the Geats: "a man who wins renown will always prosper among any people" (Line 24-25). Beowulf is definitely on the road to becoming a god.
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