Examples Of Good Vs Evil In Beowulf

Gen Ito

Battles of Beowulf – Good vs. Evil

For a hero, every fight has a challenge and carries significance. In movies, there is always the antagonist that comes to destroy, for example: earth, and then there is the protagonist that saves the day. During the fight, both the protagonist and the antagonist have challenges that they have to overcome. It is always harder for the protagonist, and in the end is the result of the fight and its significance to the story. In the epic poem Beowulf, the same guideline is followed. It is about the battles and glory that Beowulf has in his life. It plays out three major battles between Beowulf - the good, and the monsters - the evil. These monsters – Grendel, Grendel’s Mother, and the Dragon, all have similarities

Grendel is a monster who is the descendent of Cain. He becomes a true monster when he was exiled for killing his own brother. “…he had dwelt for a time / in misery among the banished monsters, /….For the killing of Abel / the Eternal Lord had exacted a price” (Beowulf 104-108). The reason why he attacks people is because of the jealous feelings and his notion that he was not being treated fairly. The battle with Grendel took place at the mead hall. When Beowulf first arrives to help out the Danes, he has a boast and states how he is going to defeat Grendel. “…unarmed he shall face me / if face me he dares” (Beowulf 684-685). This shows how courageous and how he stays true to his own words. He fights Grendel in hand-to-hand combat and is able to defeat him, just like he said. Although Beowulf is able to defeat Grendel, he could not have done it without the assist from his men. “Time and again, / Beowulf’s warriors worked to defend / their lord’s life, laying about them / as best they could with their ancestral blades” (793-796). This is significant in that it shows the amount of respect people have for Beowulf. The fight with Grendel is significant in many ways. It symbolizes the trust and reliability that people can now have on Beowulf, seeing that he is able to defeat the demon that was wreaking havoc in their town. It also reveals to the reader and the Danes about Beowulf’s extraordinary strength-

One similarity is that in both fights, Beowulf received aid from others. In the fight with Grendel, as mentioned before, Beowulf’s men had assisted him, leading them to victory. For the fight with the Dragon, Beowulf had aid from Wiglaf. “Next thing, they say, the noble son of Weohstan / saw the king in danger at his side / and displayed his inborn bravery and strength” (2694-2696). Wiglaf is the only warrior that stays and actually fights alongside Beowulf. He plays a significant role in the defeat of the Dragon by getting Beowulf out of near death situations. Another similarity is that after both battles, Beowulf set a reputation that is beyond anyone else. After the victory against Grendel, King Hrothgar stated in his thank you message “So now, Beowulf, / I adopt you in my heart as a dear son. / Nourish and maintain this new connection, / you noblest of men…” (945-948). Hrothgar means that Beowulf is now considered as one of Hrothgar’s noble men because of his accomplishment. This reputation of Beowulf builds up even more after his death, fighting and defeating the Dragon. “They said that of all the kings upon the earth / he was the man most gracious and fair-minded, / kindest to his people and keenest to win fame” (3180-3182). This shows the level of glory that Beowulf has received from his positive actions throughout his life. He has all of the