This essay argues that moral courage—the ability to follow one's conscience in the face of evil—defines true bravery. Through close analysis of Beowulf and William Golding's Lord of the Flies, the paper demonstrates that protagonists who steadfastly adhere to ethical values, despite grave personal danger, exemplify the highest form of human courage. Both Beowulf and Simon refuse to compromise their moral integrity when surrounded by evil forces, ultimately sacrificing their lives but not in vain. The essay concludes that following conscience requires far greater strength than succumbing to evil, making those who maintain moral principles the truly courageous members of society.
"The bravest of individuals is the one who obeys his or her conscience," says J.F. Clarke. This paper tests the validity and accuracy of this statement with respect to two important fictional works: Beowulf (anonymous) and William Golding's Lord of the Flies. The paper seeks to prove that conscience is the only beacon of hope for man when surrounded by evil forces.
In the two works under consideration, we encounter characters that either fall prey to evil forces or possess the courage to stand by their own values and strictly follow their conscience. It is the struggle of some to stand firm in the face of torrential attacks of evil that helps us realize that those who follow conscience are the strongest and most courageous of human beings. This is because when evil attacks with all its might, it is very easy to become its victim by following its lead and abandoning all good values. Following your conscience requires complete dedication and commitment, along with a strong ability to fight evil in all its forms. This kind of courage also includes putting yourself in grave danger.
Two important characters from Beowulf and Lord of the Flies embody all the aforementioned attributes and fight evil with their might. However, in the process they regularly encounter danger and eventually lose their lives. But they do not die in vain, as the endings of the stories prove.
In Beowulf, our protagonist is a man who embodies all Christian values and symbolizes "good forces." He staunchly follows his conscience and regularly fights evil when he launches attacks against three monsters. His first enemy is Grendel, who is everything that Beowulf is not. He is cunning, cruel, and utterly devoid of moral scruples. Grendel symbolizes the extent of evil that man can descend to if he buries his conscience and forgets every moral teaching.
Though Grendel and his mother are strong opponents, Beowulf manages to overpower them with his strong faith in the strength of good against evil. Near the end, Beowulf is again pitted against a massive evil force in the form of a dragon. Beowulf manages to overcome him but loses his own life in the process. Beowulf lives his life following his conscience and the golden principle that he firmly believed in:
It is always better to avenge dear ones than to indulge in mourning. For every one of us, living in this world means waiting for our end. Let whoever can win glory before death. When a warrior is gone, that will be his best and only bulwark. (II. 1384-89)
This principle guides every major decision Beowulf makes. Rather than retreat when faced with overwhelming odds, he chooses to confront evil directly, knowing that moral action matters more than personal survival. His sacrifice ultimately protects his people, proving that his conscience-driven choices were not acts of recklessness but of true heroism.
In Lord of the Flies, the moral exemplar takes the form of Simon, a peace-loving boy who refuses to succumb to evil forces. Simon is the only person in the whole group of boys stranded on the island who firmly adheres to his moral values and retains his ability to distinguish between right and wrong. When the entire group, including Piggy and Ralph, are overwhelmed by the evil that surrounds the island, Simon refuses to become part of the mob and seeks refuge in an obscure corner of the island.
When everyone is talking about seeing a Beast, Simon is wise enough to realize and inform the group that there is no beast except the one inside us. He is fully aware of the existence of evil within—the same evil that overpowers Jack and others so completely that they end up killing Simon without much remorse. However, Simon does not die in vain, for his death makes Piggy and Ralph more conscientious. As the text states, "Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy." (pg. 202)
Simon's moral clarity in the face of group pressure demonstrates a courage that is perhaps more subtle but no less profound than Beowulf's physical battles. His willingness to speak truth and maintain his ethical compass, despite knowing it isolates him, reveals that moral courage transcends the battlefield.
Both Beowulf and Simon illustrate a fundamental truth about human nature and morality. Following in the footsteps of evil is the easiest thing man can do because it requires no courage or strength. It demands only conformity and the abandonment of principle. On the other hand, following your conscience and retaining your ability to distinguish between good and evil are extremely difficult tasks that cannot be achieved without valor and dedication. Moral courage—the willingness to act according to principle even when it costs everything—separates the truly brave from those who merely survive.
We can now say with certainty that those who remain good despite being regularly attacked by evil and who therefore follow their conscience are truly courageous souls. Their lives, and often their deaths, affirm Clarke's insight: true bravery is not found in the absence of evil or fear, but in the steadfast adherence to one's moral principles. Whether through epic warfare or quiet moral witness, characters who follow their conscience prove themselves to be the strongest members of their worlds.
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