Good And Evil In Beowulf By Burton Raffel

In the poem of “Beowulf” translated by Burton Raffel, the conflict between Good and Evil is fully established by the description of the characters and their actions. In this poem, the protagonist Beowulf represented the hero and the antagonist Grendel represented the monster. The feature of the two characters is mostly distinguished by the translator’s description. For example, the heroic characteristics of the protagonist are explained in Beowulf’s arrival in Denmark to help King Hrothgar and his people. Beowulf is described as “bold and strong-minded(251),” which is commonly seen as the symbol of a hero. His presence is accurate as “driven affliction off(352)” and “purged Herot clean(352).” These phrases describe the theme of good triumphing over evil as Beowulf defeats the monstrous Grendel and restores peace to the land.

Specifically, Grendel is portrayed as “harrowing(744),” “grim and fierce(744),” and “exulting in his prey(744).” These derogatory phrases further reinforced the idea that Grendel represents evil since heroes are mostly described in commendatory terms. Additionally, the idea of Good will always defeat Evil no matter how serious the consequence is shown in “So the Geatish defender of the people/ Had killed Grendel, ended the grief,/ The sorrow, the suffering forced on Hrothgar’s/ Hepless hearth-companions by that hell-forged/ Fiend (818-822). In the highlighted victory of good over evil, as Baeowulf’s defeat of Grendel brings an end to the suffering and grief caused by the monster’s attack, we could also see the sacrifices from the hero specifically in “The sorrow, the suffering forced on Hrothgar’s(813)” and in Baewulf’s death. This represented the idea of victory is never won easily, and is always based on people’s thrive and