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Good and evil in literature
Good vs evil literary analysis for beowulf essay
Good and evil in literature
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Part of the development of a human being involves acquiring the ability to classify good and evil as well as distinguishing right from wrong. It has become an inherent trait that is invariably used in our everyday lives. In John Gardner’s novel, Grendel, the main character, Grendel, seeks to find the meaning of life. Through his journey, a depiction of the forces of good and evil is revealed. Aside from being a novel about the search for the meaning of life, Grendel also suggest society’s good and evil have a meaningful and imbalanced relationship where good prevails evil yet facing evil is still critical.
The relationship between good and evil is generally morality against immorality and has a major role in the novel. An action that is life preserving and sacrificial is believed to be “good” in our modern society. King Hrothgar’s wife, Wealtheow, is a complete representation of this concept. When tensions run high between the two kings, King Hygmod offers his daughter as “Wealtheow, or holy servant of common good” to King Hrothgar to preserve their peaceful environment (Gardner 100). King Hygmod’s description of her as a “servant” exemplifies the sacrifice of her personal life for assistance in maintaining peace between the two kings. On the other hand, degradation and hurt and overall suffrage created by one’s activity determines the denotation of the word “evil.” This idea is best resembled by Grendel’s feelings toward a statement made by the Dragon he meets on his journey. He is shocked to find that the dragon “could lie” and “that [h]e was evil enough” to do so (Gardner 71). The lie is what degrades Grendel as a person and he interprets as evil. These antithetical opposites of nature are connected because of their strong ef...
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... by murdering Grendel, this action is expressed as moral. This idea is reconfirmed when the Dragon explains to Grendel how he is “the brute existent by which they learn to define themselves” in reference to men (Gardner 73). This further suggests that society requires evil to present them an explanation for their life and actions.
Through the analysis of characters and their actions, the novel Grendel suggests society has adopted good and evil’s unequal relationship for meaningfulness in life. The modern society is built on the opposite forces of nature and that evil must be challenged although good prevails it. However, evil and good is subjective which makes the true struggle between good and evil. Moreover, our every day actions are differentiated between good and evil acts. Unfortunately, while this occurs, good and evil will never be a black and white concept.
Good vs. Evil in John Gardner's Grendel? & nbsp; John Gardner's novel Grendel gives the reader a new perspective on the classic "good vs. Evil" plot. From the start of the book the reader can tell that there is something very unique about the narrator. It is evident that the narrator is a very observant being that can express himself in a very poetic manner. The story is one the reader has most likely seen before, the battle between the glorious thanes and the "evil" beast. In this case, however, the "beast" is the eyes and ears of the. reader. This, of course, forces the reader to analyze situations in the book in the same way that Grendel does. By using this viewpoint, author allows his readers to see the other side of the coin. Therefore, Throughout the course of the novel the reader is able to understand how important to Grendel in defining the human. & nbsp; Grendel's first encounter with the human beings that he literally defines is not a pleasant one. After accidentally trapping himself in a tree he is discovered by a group of thanes out on patrol. Grendel expresses absolutely no hostile intentions towards these "ridiculous" (ch. 2). pp.24) creatures that "moved by clicks." (ch.2, pp.24) The thanes do not understand what Grendel is and are very uneasy about the whole situation.
Grendel is a classic hero versus villain story, but it’s written through the perspective of the “villain.” In Grendel, a novel by John Gardner, The main character and narrator Grendel watches and gives his input as society advances in many different ways such as divisions of class and war. The book Grendel can also be seen as a first-hand account of the ruinous effects of labels on a malleable-minded individual such as Grendel. In the novel Grendel, John Gardner uses characterization by using the villain archetype to convey the central idea that heavily enforced labels in society can be detrimental on an individual's natural and unique persona.
John Gardner, the writer of Grendel believed that it was the artists or poets job to educate to ordinary people. This was because he thought artists saw the world different. In this novel he seems to portray someone as being monstrous if they thought that there was no meaning to life, no greater force than one’s self. In his book Grendel he explores many different ideas and philosophies in the world. He demonstrates theses through the inner struggles Grendel goes through and different characters he looks to for meaning in life. There are many characters that have e...
Grendel is a three – dimensional character. At the same time, Grendel can lose his confused frivolous existence and become a bloodthirsty killer. Grendel reflects modern troubled youth. He is lost in a corrupt world and consequently the use of violence is a means of short-term escape. Although we want to see Grendel saved, it is impossible to aid all adolescents in troubled. In addition, if we say Grendel’s acts are justifiable because he lives in terrible world, we are also saying it is justifiable for a drug dealer to deal out drugs. In order to maintain balance in civilization, we must have equal shares of compassion and common sense. Common sense tells us children are not products of their environment.
In John Gardner’s, Grendel, the main character, Grendel, is a morally ambiguous character. This is because although he does commit evil in killing the men, through his eyes he is doing good by riding the world of these men. Grendel chooses to kill many men in Herot which is view as immoral but according to Grendel this is his purpose and he is right by doing so. To the reader Grendel is morally ambiguous as we know the crimes he commits are wrong but in the end, the reader still is sympathetic towards Grendel. Grendel commits evil acts for the purpose of good deeds which is where the reader's sympathy becomes prevalent.
The people’s inability to understand and see grendel beyond just the creature, created more trouble than peace. Another firm reason for their disapproval of grendel was the fact that grendel did not appear to like humans to begin with. Aside from his original thoughts that people were “dangerous creatures” grendel was not inviting to the groups of people he wanted to be accepted by. He saw their overall ability to “create their own destiny” as a threat and a quality that he himself could not obtain, almost forming a sense of jealousy. This feeling alone was another reason that mankind did not accept grendel with open arms. His fighting with the danes was another reason for their hesitance for any kind of remorse to someone like grendel. Their societal standard’s forced grendel to be vagrant and misguided as he tried to find his only purpose in life, thus showing grendel that there was no hope for a similarity between the people and
The more complex approach taken in this novel shows the real struggle that Grendel has while trying to figure out his purpose. Grendel was raised as “evil” and does not know how to be good. His childhood revolved around being extremely lonely with only his mother around, who couldn’t even talk. He envies the humans because they have each other and show feelings of love and care towards each other while Grendel does not have that. The fact that he seems to desire those feelings are a sign of potential goodness in Grendel. These “seeds” of goodness are
Gardner introduces Grendel’s tale by quickly unveiling a stream of consciousness empowered by hardship and pain. This, the image of an estranged monster segregated from all of humanity, establishes the theme of suffering. To illustrate, Grendel refers to himself as a “pointless monster crouched in the shadows” and a “poor old freak” that wreaks of murdered men and children (Gardner 6). It is apparent early on how Grendel sees his role in society, as a vilified creature with no reason to exist whatsoever. Moreover, this highlights Grendel’s pain as he, a murderous being, has no place among the humans he watches from the forest. While Grendel is unable to undermine the
You may or may not be familiar with Beowulf’s representation of the monster, Grendel. Whether you are or not, you will be incredibly familiar with the “shadow-stalker” very shortly. Most people would agree that the epic’s characterization of Grendel is less than flattering. John Gardner, on the other hand, presents us with an alternate vision of one of the earliest monsters in British literature with his novel, Grendel. Gardner’s demon is evil too, or again, so one may think, depending on one’s definition of the word. So you must decide if Grendel is, in fact, evil. Are we supposed to sympathize with him? Is he punished for his “evil” deeds? Write an essay proving that Grendel is or is not evil, using examples
This passage emphasizes how the Geats viewed the dragon, who was simply trying to retrieve a stolen cup, as an angry merciless monster who would stop at nothing to kill them all. To them, there is nothing eviler than a creature that destroys everything from their homes to their lives. Yet, that is the exact method that many of the warrior kings use to conquer neighboring towns. In essence, Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon are all harshly judged by humanity to be evil creatures because of the death they
In his book, Grendel, John Gardner initially makes his readers believe that the main character and narrator, Grendel, is evil. It is not until later in the book that readers find that this initial reaction is false. Grendel is not evil but instead he is perceived in society this way although they make the same vicious actions. The narrator is considered evil in the society because he is not human, and therefore thought of as a monster.
The Dragon gives logical advice to Grendel to stay clear of the humans because they bring no benefit to him. He explains to Grendel that he is not a magnificent creature, and that he is replaceable adding “if you withdraw, you’ll instantly be replaced (73).” He encourages Grendel to find a different meaning to life than terrorizing the humans, a purpose, such as finding sorting, and organizing treasures. “Do as I do! Seek out the gold – but not my gold- and guard it (62)”. When Grendel asks the Dragon his thoughts on the Shaper storytelling, the Dragon explains that the Shaper’s words are ridiculous and he provides an illusion of reality (65).”The Dragon counteracts Shaper’s ideals by repeating to Grendel the idea of collecting treasures, which would create a greater meaning and a more satisfied life. In the end the future cannot be changed and eventually everyone will die, “ashes to ashes and slime to slime, amen (73).” That Grendel should utilize the time he has while being alive to make an achievement that he can see, hold, and count. The Dragon advice portrays that irrespective of how Grendel feels upon killing the humans and playing a villain in the spectrum of life this deed is
Good and evil is found in everyone. Certain people show either create more than others. “Two Wolves”, by an unknown author, shows the battle between the two. In The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne, Bruno's father exemplifies both of these traits. Everyday, people struggle with deciphering whether good or evil will dominate their personality.
Grendel is the embodiment of all that is evil and dark. He is a descendant of Cain and like Cain is an outcast of society. He is doomed to roam in the shadows. He is always outside looking inside. He is an outside threat to the order of society and all that is good. His whole existence is grounded solely in the moral perversion to hate good simply because it is good.
Lurking evil combatted by bravado and strength appears throughout the poem. Right from the start, the author addresses the conflict. “Times were pleasant for the people there,” the epic begins, “until finally one, a fiend out of hell, began to work his evil in the world.” However, Beowulf quickly rushes to the people’s aid. “When he heard about Grendel, [Beowulf] was on home ground, over in Geatland. There was no one else like him alive. In his day, he was the mightiest man on earth.” Two other villains in the story also utilize this same theme, Grendel’s mother and the Dragon. This tenuous balance between forces of good, and the underlying malice of the villain resolves only with the mutual death of Beowulf and his final foe, the Dragon.