Beowulf was seen as a good hero throughout the epic, and light was seen as a symbol of good, just as his armor was light and bright . Grendel was considered an evil monster who attacked, murdered men and spread terror in Herot. Darkness was seen as a symbol of something evil lurking nearby and within Grendel's lair. Good and evil took place between Beowulf and Grendel, Beowulf and Grendel's mother, and Beowulf and the dragon at the end of the poem when he was really old. The theme of good versus evil had an overall effect on the epic poem by stating that no matter how much evil is on this earth, it will always lose against good. This was demonstrated and depicted when Beowulf defeated the dragon. Although he was also killed, the faithful Wiglaf continued the goodness and became king. In the end, good conquered evil, as always