Satan, demonic forces, and fire flames come to mind when you think of evil. God, Angels, and heaven above the clouds come to mind when you think of good. An old epic poem kept alive by the Anglo Saxons represents all of these thoughts. An epic poem that consisted of many conflicts both good and evil. A strong hero and loyal warrior, who battles against the demons, and dragons from hell. A warrior born to sacrifice his life to save others. A man who swam across the ocean to uphold an image, a man who traveled many miles to avoid defeat?
Beowulf a classical fictional hero who struggled against three evil monsters, endured challenges, suffered and was eventually victorious over evil. There is a thin line between good and evil, and like oil and water it do not mix. Beowulf was like an Angel sent from heaven to watch over a helpless king in his time of need, whereas the descendants of Cain and the demon dragon were merely sent from hell to make mankind miserable. One man, an epic hero, who sets out to defeat a ferocious beast only to gain glory, praise, and to save a kingdom. Beowulf was an epic poem one of the oldest English literature writings.
It was written between the eight and early eleventh century. In a land far north of what is now called Europe, was a kingdom known as Geatland. Most believed this is where Beowulf was reared by his uncle to be the divine savior that people always wished for to fight against the demonic forces that existed in those times. He was the son of Warrior Ecgtheow with his mother being the sister of Hygelac. His uncle raised him because Beowulf had a special quality that was not seen in anyone else. In a different light Grendel, Grendel’s mom and the demon dragon was reared in darkness.
Being the descendants of the biblical Cain who Evil knew no end when it came to destruction and torment. This was the evil monsters and creatures every day phase of life. King Hrothgar was a great warrior, but age had worn him down. He could no longer protect the people he was responsible for. An evil monster was raiding his hall killing warriors. Beowulf wanted to prove himself as a great warrior. Many knew that Beowulf’s father was in a bind, and Hrothgar sent a treasure to the people and paid the price with blood to settle the feud.
This encouraged Beowulf to take on the battle along with efforts to receive praise for being the most powerful warrior of all. Grendel was a tall lanky, powerful evil creature that lived in a deep fiery swamp pit in the ground. He was referred to as the seed of Cain, a bitter cursed creature that had no pity on mankind. He actually had a jealous streak toward mankind. He felt like mankind was more blessed than he was. Like the New Testament says in first peter the fifth chapter the eight verse “your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Grendel had an agenda every night to invade the King’s hall. Beowulf waited for dark to come and when it did along came Grendel. The king’s men had been partying and singing this made the monster very angry. Most of the soldiers were asleep, but Beowulf remained awake. Grendel’s eyes started to light up as he approached the soldiers. It was as if he was excited to find so many unaware of his entrance. Most say he had that suppertime look on his face. He suddenly grabbed a soldier, ripped his bones apart. As Grendel was about to kill the next victim: Beowulf grabbed his hand with a strong grip.
This had never happened and Grendel was afraid. This really made the fight go on between the two. Grendel roars as Beowulf pushes him back. His fingers were cracking as Beowulf pinned his arm down. After pinning his arm down it was eventually ripped off. Grendel gets up with the little strength he had and ran back to his mother bleeding to death. Beowulf made sure he fought without any amour to match up with Grendel. He won the physical battle but internally fought another one because he wanted the head of Grendel for praise and his own satisfaction. Once Grendel was defeated it was on and popping.
His mother wanted revenge instead of sorrow. Grendel’s mother was not big in size or powerful like her son. She had her own sense of motivation. A feeling that mothers often get when her child is in danger. Grendel’s mother went to the Mead Hall hungry for revenge. She wanted to see the battle ground that led to her son’s death. She arrived at the Mead Hall, all the warriors were asleep. Beowulf was asleep another room. She immediately took her sons arm, and Hrothgar’s beloved Aeschere ,and exited the building. She knew that Beowulf or someone would challenge her and she would be waiting.
Grendel’s mother lived in a lair under water. It was a dark area full of rocks on a hill that overlooked the water. The water was filled with snakes, and also had boiling blood. It was as if evil could be smelled lurking at your veins. She knew by taking the king’s best friend and her son’s arm from the Mead Hall it would not be long before someone come looking. It was just like bait on a fishing trip. She wanted to bring Beowulf in, and then make her move. Her plan seemed to work fine after she left Herot. Beowulf and his crew set out to find this evil, lurking creature by bloody trail.
At the end of the trail was a real bad smelly body of water. The trail made by Grendel’s mother carrying Aeschere’s body to her cave. Unfreth gave Beowulf a sword that never failed to defeat evil creatures. He said it was passed down through generations in his family, and he wanted him to have it. Beowulf made it to Grendel’s mothers dwelling place. He noticed Aeschere’s head which made him upset. He dove down into the lake, the water was so cold it felt as if he had been paralyzed by the chill, and brought back to life. He had to swim half of the day before he reached the lake’s bottom.
The wind pulled at him very hard on the way down it was hard to breathe. While in the water, he thought maybe there was a hell on earth, and he had landed there. Suddenly Beowulf felt a force pulling him out of the water, only to find it was the vengeful mother of Grendel. Grendel’s mother tried to put a tight hold on Beowulf, but his armor kept her from doing so. She then took him to her cave that was protected from the water. Beowulf immediately tried to cut her with his sword. He wanted to put a hole through her skin but it did not work. She tried to grab him again he eventually gets away.
Finally, Beowulf saw a giant, jeweled sword in her lair that had certain powers. His first thought was this had to be a vision from God. Only a sword of this stature would kill something so evil. Beowulf thought it was impossible to lift a sword so huge. It took all he had to lift the sword and killed the evil water creature. He had to put in some work to kill that mom, but when it was done he returned with Grendel’s head. They celebrated and once again evil had been defeated. Beowulf left Denmark and went back to Geatland to finally rule as king. Once again evil defeated by good physically but not internally.
Beowulf struggled with different mind thoughts. He felt less than a man because he used a weapon on Grendel’s mom with her being unarmed. However, the Battle with Grendel was still lingering in his mind. He wanted one thing Grendel’s head to prove defeat. Once he noticed Grendel’s head in his mother’s lair he came out boastful even though he struggled internally with the mothers fight saying “look what I have. ” After years of ruling and enjoying riches, evil struck again. Everything that glitters is not good gold. The dragon had been resting on a treasure horde hundreds of years.
She had a great treasure that was buried in a cave. A beaten slave running from his master stole a cup from the treasure. Although he was afraid, he wanted to free himself from a crime by paying with a jewel. When the dragon woke up and saw the cup was gone she went into a rage. She burned villages, and killed people. She let out a huge flame of fire hoping to find the slave that deprived her of some riches. Beowulf was old but still had that warrior fighting fire. It had been fifty years since he defeated Grendel, and his mother. Beowulf asked for a certain shield, and a few men to tag along in his efforts to defeat the dragon.
He also took a sword that was given to him. This was not his first rodeo, but fear was present on the day of battle. Once again Beowulf felt physically ready to defeat the dragon but internally his age weighed heavily on his mind. Beowulf let the Thanes know that this is their last battle. When they arrived at the dragon’s cave Beowulf entered alone. When Beowulf went in he screamed and the dragon was at him as if he had been waiting. The dragon blew fire at Beowulf as he tried to hold his shield up to protect himself. The shield protected him from the fire but the sword did not do any justice.
Beowulf was left with nothing to fight back. The men he brought along betrayed him, and left him to die. One man Wiglaf was the only one that stayed to help Beowulf go toe to toe with the dragon. The dragon was indeed a match for Beowulf and Wiglaf. It covered both of them in fire. Beowulf fought back and wounded the dragon, but the dragon was not going out like the titanic. She stabbed Beowulf in the neck with her poisonous tusk. Wiglaf stabbed the dragon. but was burned real badly. Beowulf took a knife and also stabbed the ferocious beast. This was the dragons’ fatal blow. Beowulf along with Wiglag defeated the dragon.
Wiglag was so loyal he allowed Beowulf to get the killing stab on the dragon, and wanted no praise. Beowulf fell to the ground; wiglaf tries to put water on him to help. He said “My days have gone by as my fate willed waiting for its word to be spoken. ” He also asked Wiglaf to take charge of his people. He wanted Wiglaf to bring some of the dragon’s treasures so he could see what he was dying for. Beowulf also wanted a tower built in his remembrance. He then gave Wiglaf a gold necklace and asked him to be the King of Geats. After he named Wiglaf King, Beowulf took his last breaths and died.
There are many aspects in the epic poem Beowulf which consisted of both good and evil. Beowulf represents mankind, goodness, and righteousness. Grendel was cursed by God, and symbolized hatred evil, and wickedness. Beowulf was always willing to fight a clean fight despite his age or opponent. Good eventually overcame evil in the epic because Beowulf stopped evil Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the demon dragon form terrorizing the King and his people. He killed all evil sources that led to the mischief of Gods people. Beowulf was indeed a hero that stood firm and did not back down.
He was loyal to the people he protected, not worrying about the cost of his own life. He was a prideful man, who faced good and evil situations to prove his strengths or praise. Three evil monsters, who sought vengeance upon one of mankind’s most powerful warrior. Beowulf was considered to be of God, whereas the monsters were of the devil. It’s like the old saying one bad apple spoils the bunch. Each monster had an evil agenda to kill, steal, or destroy. Beowulf possessed good qualities and the monsters, and creatures possessed evil, and as I stated in the beginning like oil and water it does not mix.