112-116). When Beowulf battles Grendel, he exhibits a sense of fairness when he refuses to use a weapon. The idea throughout the poem of living right, of loyalty, and of being a good leader can all be seen as traits of a good Christian. Just as Beowulf somewhat compares to Christ, Grendel is like Satan. Beowulf and Grendel represent the Christian beliefs of good verses evil. Grendel is referred to as a descendant of Cain, the man who killed his own brother. Conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain...punished forever for the crime of Abels death.(Beowulf, lines 20-24). Satan is jealous of the happiness and joy that humanity has, Grendel is jealous of the happiness and joy in Herot. ...in the darkness, growled in pain, impatient as day after day the music rang...(Beowulf, lines 2-3). Grendel lives in an underworld as Satan lives in hell. The dragon is Beowulf's last and greatest battle. The dragon represents hostility, greed, and destruction, which can also be paralleled to the devil. Beowulf's fight with the dragon is like how Jesus gave his life for his people. Finally, just as Christ had one last battle, Beowulf has his final battle with the dragon. Both Christ and Beowulf fought hard in their last battles with evil and although they both ultimately died in their final battle, they both were able to overcome the evil before they died. Other more apparent influences of Christianity was the reference of Hrothgars throne being holy. ... he never dared to touch king Hrothgars...throne, protected by God-God, whose love Grendel could not know.(Beowulf, lines 82-85). The reference to God was throughout the poem. God must decide who will be given to deaths cold grip.(Beowulf, lines 174-175). Surely the Lord Almighty could stop this madness, smother his lust!(Beowulf, lines 212-213). The theme of Cain and Abel is brought up one more time during the confrontation between Beowulf and Unferth. You murdered your brothers, your own close k...
