In Beowulf, the contrast between good and evil is present throughout the poem. Characters such as Beowulf and Hrothgar represent good while Grendel and his mother are clearly evil, however, some of the characters have qualities that might not align with the side of the battle they are on. The plot hinges on the difference between good and evil, and without it there would not be much of a story. When Beowulf first made the decision to fight Grendel and prevent him from ever returning to Heorot he showed the Danes that he cared enough about them to risk his life. Even though Beowulf has some qualities that could be considered bad, such as his boastfulness and pride, he is overall a good-hearted person. When Hrothgar saw this, he proved
