Good vs. Evil - 1659 Words

Good Vs. Evil In Beowulf, the conflict between good and evil is the poem s main and most important aspect. The poet makes it clear that good and evil doesn’t exist as only opposites, but that both qualities are present in everyone. Beowulf represents the ability to do good or to perform acts selflessly and in help of others. Goodness is also showed throughout this epic as having the ability to cleanse evil. Even though evil is presented by Grendel, Grendel s mother, and the dragon, who are filled with a desire to act against people and ultimately destroy them, even pride, a human quality, is presented in Beowulf as a sign that evil exists. This story might even be considered a classic because it mainly talks about the old fashion†¦show more content†¦He often talked about his accomplishments saying, â€Å"They had seen me bolstered in the blood of enemies when I battled and bound five beasts, raided a troll-nest and in the night- sea slaughtered sea-brutes.† (Beowulf 419-42 2), which 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 dies. In other words, just because evil is defeated doesn’t mean good will always live. On a different but similar note, is Grendel s mother, who is seen as vengeful. Different, because she isn t the same type of evil that Grendel is, but similar because she is still an opponent to both men and the society of man at the time that Beowulf was written, or rather, spoken. Also, Grendel s mother is tainted in the opposite way that Grendel is; while Grendel is given a humanistic point of view, people try to dehumanize Grendel s mother. While she is indeed just as evil as Grendel was, she does not represent the utter evil that man must fight to achieve immortality. She is a symbol of defiance of man, but she can be seen as more of a neutral symbol. Grendel s mother doesn t attack Heorot because she doesn t like it. She attacks it because Beowulf killed her only son, But now his mother had sallied forth on a savage journey, grief-racked andShow MoreRelatedEvil Vs. Good And Evil1055 Words   |  5 PagesEvil vs. Good-Which One Shall Gain Control? Good and evil are a contradiction that works together. What I mean by this statement is that although good and evil are two very separate things, they could not exist without each other. Good is anything of which can be morally right. Evil is anything of profound wickedness. They are very different, aren’t they? 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