While the classic battle between the forces of good and evil is a major theme of the medieval epic Beowulf, one might wonder whether these forces of good and evil are as black and white as appear. Scholars such as Herbert G. Wright state that "the dragon, like the giant Grendel, is an enemy of humanity, and Beowulf's audience can have had no sympathy for either" (Wright, 4 ). However, other scholars such as Andy Orchard disagree with this statement and believe that there is "something deeply human about 'monsters'" (Orchard, 29). Although Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon are indeed depicted as evil and violent enemies, there are parts within Beowulf that may also lead the reader to believe that the "monsters" may not be so monstrous after all. Indeed, the author of Beowulf represents the “monsters” within the poem with a certain moral ambivalence. This ambivalence ultimately evokes traces of sympathy in the reader for the plight of these "monster" figures and blurs the fine line between good and evil within the poem. The first adversary that Beowulf must face in the land of the Danes is Grendel, verbatim described as "a demon out of hell... [a] dark demon / who haunts the marches, / who plunders the moor / and the desolate marshes" ( Beowulf, line 100 - 104). The author also provides us with a moral description, explaining how Grendel is “merciless… malignant by nature, he has never shown remorse” (lines 135-137). As we can see here, the author's physical and moral portrayal of Grendel is quite merciless. We also feel further resentment for Grendel when we learn that he has ravaged the Heorot hall for twelve years, "inflicting constant cruelties upon the people / grievous wounds" (line 165). You might wonder... half the paper. .....his treasure, almost an obsession”, then can you really blame an animal that acts through instinct and purpose? While destructive, it was truly man's greed and ignorance that unleashed the dragon's wrath on Geatland. “The intruder who stole the dragon's treasure / and brought him to wrath had never intended to do so” (line 2215). “each antagonist struck terror into the other” (line 2565). Although the monsters in the poem are the antagonists of the poem, the author still manages to make the reader feel traces of sympathy for them. The human portrayal of Grendel, exile and misery touches the hearts of the readers and indeed shows a genuine side of the figure, while Grendel's mother and the dragon are sympathetic mainly because they were provoked to be attacked for things they both harbored a deep affection. Their actions make us question whether they are as evil as they seem.