Morality in the Epic of Beowulf :: Epic of Beowulf Essays

Beowulfs story is somewhat of an allegory in which he is show as the Christ figure. The theme of Beowulf is a contrast of good and black which is manifest in both Christian and pagan elements Beowulf represents good, while Grendel, his mother, and the calculus represent evil. The first monster our hero, Beowulf, faces is Grendel. Grendel is said to be a descendent of Cain. Unhappy creature (Grendel), he lived for a season in the phratry of the monsters race, after God had condemned them as kin of Cain (Norton, 28). Cain is the son of Eve, the woman who outwear sin into the world. A connection, however vague, can be made amongst the maternal relations of Eve and Cain and Grendel and his mother. Grendels mother can be considered to personify mans fall from grace and Grendel himself might support sin. Furthermore, the dragon Beowulf battles can be said to be a witness of Satan the smooth hateful dragon who flies at iniquity wrapped in flame (56). When facing Grendel, Beowulf r elies on God only to protect him, saying, whitethorn wise God, Holy Lord, assign glory on whichever hand seems good to Him (36). When Beowulf tears off Grendels arm, Hrothgar remarks, I endured much from the foe, many griefs from Grendel (39). It could be said that the Christian foe is sin, which causes much grief.Against Grendels mother, original sin, Beowulf becomes the Christian soldier. When Beowulf struggles against Grendels mother, God grants him a precious reach The Wielder of Men granted me that I should see hanging on the protect a fair, ancient, great- make most often He has guided the man without friends that I should wield the weapon (Norton, 48). This great s name is further described as a victory-blessed blade, an old sword made by the giants the work of giants (Norton, 47). The sword used to slay Grendels mother is work of her ancestral giants, who were elysian until they fell from grace. From (Cain) sprang all bad breeds, trolls and elves and monsters likewis e the giants who for a long time strove with God (Norton, 28). Therefore, the sword was god-forged and godly. Here the hero is using the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God to prevail (The Book of Ephesians 6.17, Bible).In his battle with the dragon (which may represent Satan) Beowulf is martyred, losing his life in the of the killing the dragon.