One of the earliest and most detailed mentions of women in literature is found in the Bible and the description ranges drastically from positive to negative. The first woman created, Eve, is interpreted by some to be wily and tainted. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Mary, the mother of Jesus, serves to represent holiness and virtue. These women were constantly used to place other members of their sex into one of two categories: harlot or saint. Thus begins the dichotomy assigned to women throughout history, illustrated by authors in their literary works. Although humanity may have “advanced,” its literary portrayal of women remains to be at a standstill, perpetuating the dichotomy of the corrupted Eve and the veritable Mary. The anonymous author of Beowulf certainly demonstrates the tendency to cast women into a role of Eve or Mary. Within the tale, the Mother of Grendel is typified as a wily and unconventional female character. She is thoroughly indignant concerning the death of her son at the hand of Beowulf and is willing to go to any length in order to have her revenge. In fact, her actions, so full of hatred and bitterness, nearly mimic those of an animal: “So she pounced upon him and pulled out / a broad, whetted knife: now she would avenge / her only child”…show more content… Throughout his work Epithalamion, Spenser emphasizes the virgin status of the bride and, because of this, deems her upright and virtuous. The bride is assuredly a representation of Mary, especially as she dons her white dress, signifying her purity. “Clad all in white, that seemes a virgin best. / So well it her beseemes that ye would weene / Some angel she had beene” (Spenser, 993). The positive qualities of this female character, such as her sweetness, beauty, and mild manner, are stated repeatedly throughout Epithalamion. This obvious virtue and goodness casts the bride as a representation of