Relationship Between Good And Evil In Beowulf

The theme for Beowulf seems to portray a fight between good and evil which will cause problems within the society. The characters in Beowulf are Beowulf, Grendel, his Mother, and dragon . Beowulf tells a story of a epic hero who travels the sea to kill a savage monster named Grendel and his mother in order to help King Hrothgar and his people. The theme of this essay will depict different battles between Beowulf and the beasts in order to restore peace amongst the people.

As Grendel drifts through the night he comes across Hrothgar's mead hall and is angered by the Warriors singing during their celebration. As the Warriors all began to sleep Grendel crept into the hall to kill 30 Warriors by snatching them up. "The monster's thoughts were as quick as his greed or his claws: he slipped through the door and there in the silence snatched up thirty men, smashed them” (Unknown 36-39). The evil deed makes Grendel the antagonist based on what the author said. This allows the reader to suggest that Grendel is the evil character and will introduce the good character soon. The cynical deed Grendel had done spreaded around like wildfire and Beowulf heard about what the beast had done and then decides to kill the beast and others.

As the story

progresses Beowulf comes to Hrothgar's Kingdom to slay Grendel and solve their problem. Beowulf and his warriors take the mead hall as their stronghold in order to surprise Grendel as he is away. As Grendel comes back he is ambushed by Beowulf and his men before the final battle begins."Then he stopped, seeing seeing the hall crowded with sleeping warriors stuffed..." (Unknown 512-513).With only his bare hands Beowulf had tore off Grendel's arm leaving him weeping in pain trying to flee. To show his triumph over the beast Beowulf keeps Grendel's arm and keeps it as a trophy. "From the rafters where Beowulf had hung it, was the monster's Arm, claw and shoulder and all." (Unknown 620-621).
However, this is not the last evil encounter the epic hero will face.

After Grendel's death villages talk amongst themselves and say they've seen a female creature. This female creature is none other than Grendel's mother who becomes furious with the death of her son. "They wrestled, she ripped and tore and clawed at him, bit holes in his helmet and that too failed him" (Unknown 711-713). The fierce battle between Grendel's mother and Beowulf end with a swift blow to the she beasts neck. "From its scabbard, broke the chain on its hilt, and then, savage, now, angry and desperate,lifted it high over his head and struck with all the strength he had left, caught her in the neck and cut it through, Broke bones and all" (Unknown

749-754).
The last evil encounter the epic hero undergoes is the battle with the dragon as he is old and respected King of the Geats. As Beowulf is on his way to slay the beast terrorizing his Kingdom. Abruptly he fails and a young warrior named Wiglaf helps the king kill and defeat the dragon. "And now our lord must lean on younger arms. And we must go to him, while angry flames burn at his flesh, help Our glorious king!" (Unknown 998-1001). Once the dead is complete the battle between good & evil is over leaving peace amongst the people, along with the memorial dedicated to Beowulf. "For ten long days they made his monument, sealed his ashes in walls as straight and high as wise and willing hands could raise them" (Unknown 1086-1089).