Essay On Beowulf Good Vs Evil

In the epic Beowulf, the idea of good vs evil is relevant in many ways. Just like in everyday life today, Beowulf shows us different characters with good and evil natures. In this epic it takes us on a journey showing Beowulf; a good natured selfless hero; fighting all the evil that is around him and the kingdom. He does this purely for justice. This epic shows us different heroes who are good, evil villains and demons, and how the two battle each other constantly.

Beowulf has a couple of different heroes that vary in what they do. Beowulf is always described as a selfless hero who fights for justice. “Thus Beowulf bore himself with valour; he was formidable in battle yet behaved with honour and took no advantage” (Beowulf 149). When the warriors

The people that are demons or filled with greed and selfishness. These are the people that people like Beowulf fight for justice against. The first evil soul that Beowulf encounters is a demon whose name is Grendel. Grendel lives in the swamplands of Hrothgar’s kingdom and terrorizes the men in the Mead Hall. “So times were pleasant for the people there until finally one, a fiend out of hell, began to work his evil in the world” (Beowulf 9).Beowulf defeats the demon Grendel without any weapons showing how strong he is. As Grendel is trying to retreat, Beowulf rips his arm off which is hung in the Mead Hall as a trophy. Grendel withdrew back to his home in the swamps where he dies. In reaction to her son’s death, Grendel’s mother; a woeful monster; seeks revenge. “Grendel’s mother, monstrous hell-bride, brooded on her wrongs” (Beowulf 89). The final evil soul that Beowulf had to conquer; but in fact died from the battle; was the dragon. The dragon symbolizes evil and the devil in many cultures. “Then an old harrower of the dark happened to find the hoard open, the burning one who hunts out barrows, the slick-skinned dragon, threatening the night sky with streamers of fire” (Beowulf 155). The dragon starts attacking the kingdom because a thief sent by his master took a gem-stubbed goblet out of the dragon’s pile of treasure. The dragon is driven by greed and immaturity. Compared to today 's world ISIS ties into Grendel’s evil morality.

This great epic shows us three different monsters Beowulf defeats, even at the expense of his own life. “I had a fixed purpose when I put to sea. As I sat in the boat with my band of men, I meant to perform to the uttermost what your people wanted or perish in the attempt, in the fiend’s clutches. And I shall fulfill that purpose, prove myself with a proud deed or meet my death here in the Mead Hall” (Beowulf 43). Beowulf gives a formal boast about how he will take down the demon to achieve justice. Whenever the Devil sends a demon to make mischief in the world, the Lord sends a great warrior to help protect the innocent people. “Like a man outlawed for wickedness, he must await the mighty judgement of God in majesty” (Beowulf 65). God’s warriors are so incredible that sometimes they do not need any weapons but just oneself and their good will. Grendel does not have any chance against the mighty Beowulf because of his strength, his good fate, and God’s favour. “The monster wrenched and wrestled with him but Beowulf was mindful of his mighty strength, the wondrous gifts God had showered on him: He relied for help on the Lord of All, on His care and favour. So he overcame the foe, brought down the hell-brute” (Beowulf 89).

In this great epic of Beowulf, good vs. evil is a common theme. The heroes; Beowulf and Wiglaf; fight for justice because of their good morals and good souls. The villains and demons;