Good and Evil in Beowulf Essay Example

The story of Beowulf was probably composed in England sometime in the Eighth Century AD, and written down circa 1000 AD, by a literate scop (bard) or perhaps a Christian scribe who was possibly educated in a monastery. The poem was created in oral tradition and was transferred to writing over time. It had its roots in folk tales and traditional stories until some very talented poet put it in something very near to its current form. The poem was more than likely performed for audiences at court or on the road as the scop found audiences to support him. It was sung or chanted rather than recited it, and usually to the accompaniment of a harp. There was a constant struggle between good and evil in the story. Beowulf, God, and Wiglaf represented good in the poem whereas Grendel, his mother, and Cain portrayed the contrasting side of evil. Beowulf and Grendel represented the ultimate struggle of good and evil. Grendel tried to destroy everything around him while Beowulf tried to do good all the time. The first battle between Beowulf and Grendel, Beowulf was God (good) and Grendel was Cain (evil). This was actually an allusion from the Bible, the story of Cain and was used to compare God's feelings of Grendel, a descendant of Cain. The book stated, "…Since Cain had killed his only / Brother, slain his father's son / with an angry sword. God drove him off, / outlawed him…". Cain killed his brother because he was evil and God shunned and marked him for his evilness. God used his wrath to take care of Cain. God had the same feelings for Grendel. Grendel was described as a vicious monster that was an offspring of everything evil, God refused to forgive Grendel and favored Beowulf's pride over Grendel’s sins. In the battle, God granted Beowulf overwhelming victory. The book stated, "The Ruler of the heavens brought about a right issue, when once more he stood up with ease." God stood with ease because the beast he hated, Grendel, was dead. Beowulf was a