Evil Grendel And The Hero Beowulf example essay topic

In the ancient epic poem of Beowulf, originating somewhere around the times of the Anglo- Saxons, there are very many characteristics of good and evil which still exist in epic poems of our time. Within the poem, good is brought out in the form of Beowulf, the hero of the poem, while on the other hand, evil is portrayed through Grendel, the horrific monster who everyone fears. This story might be even considered a classic because it mainly talks about the old fashion good vs. evil, hero vs. villain. Not only does Beowulf talk about the concepts of good and evil but reflects on the Anglo Saxons view of Christianity.

At the beginning of the play, one reads about Grendel, who is a man eating monster who is feared by everyone. He is said to live in the darkness and have no remorse on human life. This is a very big quality of an evil being and shows how the Anglo-Saxons viewed evil in forms of monsters. Evil is also thought to be greedy and according to the poem, Grendel's "thoughts were as quick as his greed".

Christian beliefs were brought up through Grendel's evil when mentioning his home and how he lives in hell and made his home there instead of Earth. Grendel is said to be "conceived by the pair of monster's born of Cain", who in the Bible, killed his brother and destined to live as an outcast. This quote shows how even Grendel is said to be so wicked enough to be compared to a sinner such as Cain. Evil in Beowulf is also considered to be never satisfied almost like an addiction in which "no savage assault can quench [Grendel].

Power would also be a good characteristic because Grendel is powerful and can't be harmed by weapons. The Danes fear of Grendel makes him even more powerful because no one dares challenge him. Grendel's only fear is that of king Hrothgar's throne because it is "protected by God" which symbolizes that the Anglo-Saxons believed that evil could be kept away from good with the protection of God and again, shows Christianity. Good, on the other hand, is represented through Beowulf who is portrayed as the hero who saves the people from the evil Grendel. Beowulf is said to be "greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world".

Good is then shown as being a hero who is the "bravest and best". Beowulf is also unselfish seeing as how he left his hometown to help the people of another city from the destruction of Grendel. When the moment came down to Grendel and Beowulf fighting, Beowulf used no weapons because Grendel wasn't either and showed a side of good which shows that goodness plays fair all the time. Beowulf was constantly showed as a man who was willing to give up his own life for other and yet still remained loyal to Hi glac, who was the King of the Gets, or his king. He often talked about his accomplishments such as "hunting monsters... killing them on by one" that shows how good can also be a bit proud. In the end, though, most of the time good will always defeat evil but good won't always stay alive.

For example, in the end of Beowulf, although Grendel was killed by Beowulf as well as his mother, Beowulf still died. In other words, just because evil was defeated, good was also defeated but now this way the people of the city can live safe again without the fear of evil. So in the end, good and evil as well as Christianity were depicted throughout Beowulf. Many of the views Anglo-Saxons had are very similar to the ones we have today and are shown in many science fiction movies. In Beowulf, though, they are shown mainly through the evil Grendel and the hero Beowulf who teaches that good and evil are not always the defeater of each other.