Theme Of Justice In Beowulf

532 Words3 Pages

Breck J. Campbell
Minerich
Pre-AP English 9
March 14th 2023

"The notions of right and wrong, justice and injustice, have no place. There is no law where there is no common power, and there is no injustice where there is no law." (Thomas-Hobbes/Leviathan). In modern-day society, people are often blind to justice and take the law as truth, not understanding that there is no such thing as truth regarding to justice, just conjecture But still Justice is a fundamental principle that forms the basis of a civilized society. It is a concept that is explored in various literary works, including Beowulf and To Kill a Mockingbird. These two books offer different perspectives on the subject of justice, from a medieval Germanic society to a Southern town in the 1930s. In both Beowulf and To Kill a Mockingbird, justice is portrayed as a concept that is both good and evil because the characters give into their temptations and call it justice, whether they are monsters or people, showing that justice is just the will of people who possess power. …show more content…

This is shown when the author wrights "He who had garnered their gold would sleep, who had earned their respect would have a sure defense in the Geatish land" (lines 2115-2117) This emphasizes the importance of reputation and honor in the society depicted in the poem. The use of alliteration "garnered their gold" and "earned their respect" emphasizes the importance of these actions in the eyes of the people. Furthermore, the repetition of the sound "g" adds a sense of strength and solidarity to the statement. Witch sports that justice in Beowulf is determined by a person's actions and reputation. A person who has earned the respect of others will have a sure defense against any injustice done to