Comparison Of Evil In Beowulf And The Pardoner's Tale

"Evil is a thick rope of many complex, twisted and intertwined strands” ( qtd. In Singer 185), is a quote by psychiatrist Robert L. Simon that demonstrates evil contains many ambiguous aspects. However, even though there are many parts within the concept of evil, Simon suggests that the innumerable forms of evil are connected with one another. Most people are quick to create judgments about cruel acts without considering the reasoning behind the execution of the despicable behavior. If one were to closely examine the sources of evil, one would discover that each situation contains a variety of differences and few similarities. The literary works of Beowulf and The Pardoner’s Tale demonstrate varying motives of evil, use evil to contribute to

Singer once wrote , “ There are numerous evil persons and evil-doers in literature, as distinct from life, it is often possible to be clearer on the motives and intentions of the evil- doer”(200). In fact, within Beowulf and The Pardoner’s Tale different motives of why villainous acts are completed can be discovered. In Beowulf cruelty is used to obtain revenge and to create pleasure for the villain. For example, the work states, “ Grendel came again, so set on murder that no crime could ever be enough, no savage assault quench his lust for evil”(Beowulf 50-53). This description demonstrates that Grendel will never be able to be satisfied with his vicious acts, and he commits to evil behavior for the sake of performing destructive tasks. Another piece from the epic states, “She’d [Grendel’s Mother] taken Hrothgar’s closest friend, the man he most loved of all men on earth; she’d killed a glorious soldier, cut a noble life short” (Beowulf 414- 417). Through this section of the story, the audience learns that Grendel’s mother made a decision to kill a nobleman’s friend because of the loss of her own son. Grendel’s mother was seeking revenge and she used an opportunity to destroy the life of someone Hrothgar cared for, just as Hrothgar had done to her through Beowulf. However, in The Pardoner’s Tale, the pardoner used evil for the sake of avarice. An example of this motive of greed is found when the work states, “ For my[The Pardoner] exclusive

The famous author, Ruth Manning Gordon once wrote, “It [evil] is a grim business, in which we are fighting not a fellow human being, but a deadly force” (67).Gordon describes evil as concocting a product of destruction. This is similar to the maliciousness that causes extermination in Beowulf and The Pardoner’sTale. An example of this destruction is illustrated in Beowulf when the author wrote, “… smashed them unknowing in their beds and ran out with their bodies, the blood dripping behind him[Grendel] , back to his lair delighted with his night’s slaughter” (37-40). The monstrous behavior exhibited by Grendel proved deadly to others and cost the innocent the precious treasure of life. Similarly, The Pardoner’s Tale also demonstrates a deathly outcome through savage decisions. For example, Chaucer states, “Thus these two murderers received their due, so did the treacherous young poisoner too” (294- 295). Evil in the end of the course of the tale has lead to the tragic downfall of three men, and the impulsive decision motivated by avarice has been executed in