The Concept of Good and Evil - Essay Example

The concept of good and evil has been with us since the beginning of time. Since the creation of the universe, good and evil have already existed.
The Bible is a good source of information on what is good and evil. The wisdom of the Bible helps us discern good deeds from bad deeds (Two paths.com, par 6). One’s religion helps one determine what is good and what is evil. Religion is the foundation that one needs to be guided in knowing what is virtuous and what is sinful. An example of this is the Catholic Church’s Ten Commandments which serve as a guideline for Catholics. That is the reason why religion is important to society. When one is good, he improves not only his life but society’s welfare also (Atkinson, par 7). Atkinson goes on further to say that if one is evil, it affects his soul and the well-being of his community.

In literature, the concept of good and evil is portrayed through the protagonist and the antagonist. The protagonist represents the good side while the antagonist shows the evil side. Almost all literary pieces impart the conflict between good and evil. Good vs. evil is a universal theme. Each individual has his interpretation of what is good and evil; however, one may view something as good while another views it as evil or vice versa.
An example of a literary piece that centers on the theme of good and evil is Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”. The novel presents the battle of good vs. evil within an individual, that is, the duality of human nature (SparkNotes LLC, par 20). The major conflict in the story is whether good can be separated from evil and which of the two is more powerful. In the novel, Dr. Jekyll represents the good side, being a well-liked and respectable doctor. Mr. Hyde on the other hand represents the wicked side of Dr. Jekyll. At the end of the story, one sees that evil gains control of Dr. Jekyll when he commits suicide to get rid of Mr. Hyde.
Through the novel by Stevenson, one sees that there is a good and an evil side in an individual. What is important is for a person not to let his bad side dominate him. One’s conscience takes a major role in determining good vs. evil. If a person is confused, it is his conscience that will help him decide to do good. Listening to one’s conscience and following the Bible would mean living a life according to the teachings of Jesus, which is a life of good actions. Read More