Dichotomy of Good and Evil in Beowulf

Dichotomy of Good and Evil in BeowulfBeowulf Good versus EvilThe heroic poem, Beowulf, is a combination of societys views and religious ideals and concepts of the Anglo-Saxon period, although some of the poem today whitethorn appear different compared to the original text prior to translation. The primal contradict of good versus evil in Beowulf may create been altered to fit the Christian beliefs of the time. Beowulf is considered the oldest of the great long poems written in English, may have been composed more than twelve hundreds years ago, in the first half of the eighth degree centigrade, although some scholars would place it as late as the tenth century (Greenblatt, 2012, p. 36). Being one of the oldest verbal and written poems has caused the original meaning and writing to change oer the years. Yet, the central themes of good versus evil and the religious undertones could have been an interlingual rendition to the world that was dominated by the Christian believers.The c entral focus between good versus evil is represented within the combination of pagan and Christian allegories that provides readers with an brainstorm not wholly what society found acceptable, but the religious convictions of the Middle Ages. During the Middle Ages, the church was a major power house and influencing many scholars to admit pagan heroes into a more acceptable Christian faith hero. It would have been unacceptable for a pagan hero to triumphant over the forces of evil, while proclaiming only one religious belief to be correct. harmonise to Stevick (1963), in order to honor paragon and the Christian beliefs of the time, the transcriber may have chosen to vary the pagan references to Christianity in order to make the poem relatable to the Christian believers (p. 80).As readers enter the world of Beowulf, they are giving a glimpse of the social conflict during the Middle Ages. This conflict in expressed through the religious views of a pagan society adapting to a new religion with the mention of One matinee idol versus the several Deities normally followed in pre-Anglo-Saxon civilization. When Beowulf is considered a Christian story, the strong allegories may be found within the characters of Beowulf and Grendel. Beowulf, the Geat warrior, could be a reference to Jesus in the Christian faith. Jesus had traveled to Israel to save them from their sinful ways, Beowulf comes to the Danes to perform to the uttermost what your people wanted or perish in the attempt, in the fiends clutches (Greenblatt, 2012, p. 54, line 634-636). Although the image of Jesus is widely known as a humble man, Beowulf appears to be blowful about his feats. The commonality between the ii individuals is clear when referencing the Christian faith.Jesus and Beowulf both fight an evil that is determined too great for the likes of normal humanity. Each are willing to sacrifice their lives in order to being salvation to people whom they feel are worthy of the action. Each ar e faced with a trail of the battle without rendering way from God, but rather put their faith in the protection and safety that God has shown them. The most interesting is the lack of reference to Jesus within the narrative. accord to Blackburn (1897), Beowulf is seen as a representation to the Christian Savior within the poem, even though Beowulf contains no references to him, to the cross, to the virgin or the saints, to any doctrine of the church in regard to the trinity, the atonement, etc., or to the scriptures, to prophecy, or to the miracles (p. 216).Readers are presented with a plot that focuses on Scandinavian culture, however much of the poets narrative interference reveals that the poets culture is silently different from that of his ancestors and that of his characters as well. For example, Beowulf lives by the heroic code of honor that is often defined as a relic of pre-Anglo-Saxon culture. roughly principles seen within the text, Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow, spoke Wi se sir, do no grieve. It is always better to avenger dear ones than to indulge in mourning. For every one of us, spiritedness in this world means waiting for our end. Let whoever can win glory before death. When a warrior is gone, that will be his best and only obstruction (Greenblatt, 2012, p.72, line 1383-1389). The concept of centre of attention for an eye, death for death was met with same justification during this time period. Yet, in some ways it remembers the First Testament of the Bible when eye for eye was the manner of payment injustices.Grendel represents the evils of the world as a whole, although some may see it as the Satan confronting Jesus in his three trails of faith. According to Greenblatt (2012), the poem turns on Beowulfs three great fights against preternatural evil, which inhabits the dangerous and demonic space surrounding human society, which would be another reference to the Christian allegory reference. (p. 38-39). Grendel is one of three manifestations of evil and the first for Beowulf to face. Grendels first attack of evil is on the order of the Danes and wreaking havoc on the people. His evil appears to seek the devastation of the Danish society from the top down, leaving the community without leadership and protection against the evils that may surround them. In this approach, Grendel would be an allegory for the minion demons that cause destruction to order and civil society with wholesome values.While good versus evil is a common theme seen in multiple of folklores prior to Christianity can be seen, the Christianization of the Anglo-Saxon society has influenced the transcriber to relate the story to a boarder Christian audience. According to Stevick (1963), when passages use references to pagan traditions and then mention a Christian reference or lack Christian elements, into which at one point a Christian explanation is added in anticipation of a subsequent Christianized bet of the fight and explanation of its outcome, an d because the poet was attempting to produce a major, written poem about Beowulf that avoided inconsistency in Christianized and non-Christian matter with which he was working (p. 84). The information and facts that point to a transcriber who found in somewhat necessary to conform the Germanic hero tale into something about the Christian society in which the poem may have originated, and something about the society in which the Christian writer lives within. The original tale informs readers that the society that the poem may have been written in treasured great acts of courage and strength. It would be a society that relished in the tales of great conquests and hardships as a pastime entertainment.However, this would have been different from the time of the poem was canned the rewrite would have been influenced by the power of the Church. All the honor and prestige would have been given to God for blessing them with extraordinary men granting who were favored by God. Success with battles was no longer considered the achievement of the individuals strength, but by the will of God. It was no longer acceptable to praise or boast about the achievements over a good meal, but rather to be thankful and put ones faith into God for providing victory over evil. According to Stevick (1963), Beowulf belongs to a more Christianized Anglo-Saxon society and the oral materials existed prior to the conversion of the British kingdom. While oral tradition may have act with the pagan beliefs still attached, the written version was adapted to include the Christian beliefs. While there is no actual reference to Jesus within the tale, the references to God and contributing the success to him allowed the stale to be acceptable in a Christian society during the Middle Ages.While the central conflict of Beowulf is good and evil, the rewritten tale removes many elements referencing the pagan beliefs and transforming them into the Christian concept of God winning over horrors of evil . This coincides with the conversion of Druid and pagan beliefs into the new belief of Christianity. The church would find ways to convert pagans and druids into accepting the new faith by combining pagan traditions, folklore and references with Christian beliefs. Beowulf appears to be just another victim of Christianity overtaking an existing culture and conclusion ways to find it acceptable for their beliefs.ReferencesBlackburn, F. A. (1897). The Christian Coloring in the Beowulf. PMLA, (2). 205. Retrieved on June 7, 2015 from http//www.jstor.org.proxy- library.ashford.edu/stable/456133?seq=1page_scan_tab_contentsGreenblatt, S., et al. (Eds.) (2012). The Norton anthology of English literature (9th ed., Vol.1). New York, NY W. W. Norton Company, Inc.Stevick, R. D. (1963). Christian Elements and the Genesis of Beowulf. forward-looking Philology, (2). 79. Retrieved on June 7, 2015 from http//www.jstor.org.proxy- library.ashford.edu/stable/435497?seq=1page_scan_tab_contents