Grendel Themes

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In the book Grendel by John Gardner, there are many themes throughout the novel. These themes make the novel what it is today, a literary masterpiece. Two of the main themes featured are the isolation of Grendel, and the struggle between good and evil. They both play a major part in the plot of Grendel. Right from the beginning of the novel, it is revealed that Grendel has next to no one. His only companion is his mother. Grendel’s mom, a being either without a capacity of language, or merely choosing not to communicate, merely grunts or is silent. So although he feels a small connection to her, as evident when in chapter two they embrace while he cries, and is comforted by her actions, it is more due to their kinship, rather than …show more content…
His first encounter with humans, is after waking up stuck in the tree, they mistake him as a tree spirit. From then on, he watches them continuously, learning their languages and social norms. Grendel’s turning point with the humans comes to it’s pinnacle moment in chapter four. The whole story Grendel had only wanted to befriend the humans, but is harshly rejected after realizing the violent nature of humans. After discovering a man with his throat cut, all the while the shaper sings a song proclaiming Grendel is cursed by God, and Grendel, overcome, runs into Harot Hall, crying for mercy, protesting that he is a friend. The men mistake his action, due to not understanding the sounds coming out of Grendel’s mouth, as he has not yet mastered their language. They instead chase him with axes and spears. Even the dragon, whom Grendel goes to for advice, is cruel and rude towards …show more content…
From the fourth chapter, the humans in the novel are shown to be capable of both great creation, and great destruction, when Grendel discovers a couple courting, and at the same time steps over a man with his throat cut. This theme is also apparent throughout the novel. When Wealtheow is introduced, Grendel is automatically drawn to her by both her beauty and grace. Wealtheow even defends Unferth when the other thanes accuse him of murder, the ultimate act of compassion and understanding to Grendel who despises Unferth. In comparison, Hrothgar is a fool in Grendel’s eyes, always sending thanes to battle lacking the sense that most will not return. The Shaper is shown by Grendel as a wise figure, who tells beautiful stories, but even he is flawed, having fallen in love with a married woman. Although nothing happens between them, it still shows the true gray areas of good and evil in human nature.
In Beowulf, the scariest monster is no doubt Grendel, who has murdered thousands of men and wreaks havoc in Heorot Hall. But in Grendel, humans are the terrifying ones, who kill and cause destruction for no good reason. Grendel is portrayed at the somewhat rational one, killing to give them a sense of purpose, as the dragon tells him. Within the first chapter, the difference between the two tales is extremely apparent to the
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