While both portray the fight between good and evil, Beowulf and Lord of the Flies do so in very different ways, highlighting the differences between the authors and circumstances that created these two great works. Beowulf, written over a millennium ago, portrays the fight of good versus evil in a very traditional manner, with a human character— Beowulf— combating various monsters. The titular character of Beowulf is the main manifestation of good in the epic. He is a devout Christian, attributing all of his victories and successes to God, and prays before any confrontation with his enemies. He is incredibly brave, putting himself in situations that no other man dares to face, such as when he swims down to the lair of Grendel’s mother. He
…show more content…
The definitions of good and evil changed drastically between the publication of Beowulf and the publication of Lord of the Flies nearly a millennium later, due to the changing beliefs of society. Recent events —the second world war, in particular—not religion, shaped the views of many. In Lord of the Flies, evil is not longer considered an external threat to mankind, but rather an internal danger lurking within us. The concept of evil is manifested in nearly all the boys on the island, but none display it so thoroughly as Jack, their leader. Although he was once the leader of a church choir, Jack proves to be murderous and disloyal. Jack was far from the only one, however. Most of the other boys exhibit these evil traits as well, demonstrating the author’s belief that evil exists within mankind. This is something that he—and the world—witnessed firsthand during World War II. Ordinary people were turned against each other; normally peaceful people slaughtered each other for no purpose, in the same way that once-peaceful schoolboys become murderous in Lord of the Flies because of an imaginary beast. However, not all of the boys in the novel are wicked. The evil of Jack contrasts starkly with the character Simon. Simon, the representation of good in the novel, does not partake in the senseless violence to which the others succumb. Instead,
The definitions of good and evil changed drastically between the publication of Beowulf and the publication of Lord of the Flies nearly a millennium later, due to the changing beliefs of society. Recent events —the second world war, in particular—not religion, shaped the views of many. In Lord of the Flies, evil is not longer considered an external threat to mankind, but rather an internal danger lurking within us. The concept of evil is manifested in nearly all the boys on the island, but none display it so thoroughly as Jack, their leader. Although he was once the leader of a church choir, Jack proves to be murderous and disloyal. Jack was far from the only one, however. Most of the other boys exhibit these evil traits as well, demonstrating the author’s belief that evil exists within mankind. This is something that he—and the world—witnessed firsthand during World War II. Ordinary people were turned against each other; normally peaceful people slaughtered each other for no purpose, in the same way that once-peaceful schoolboys become murderous in Lord of the Flies because of an imaginary beast. However, not all of the boys in the novel are wicked. The evil of Jack contrasts starkly with the character Simon. Simon, the representation of good in the novel, does not partake in the senseless violence to which the others succumb. Instead,