Hero and Frankenstein Essay

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Though not as overt as Grendel, the concept of "revolution" is also displayed in Frankenstein. Frankenstein's society ostrasises its undesirables by chasing them to the darkest corners of the world in much the same way that Grendel's society does. Frankenstein's monster is driven from his birthplace by his creator only to find that he must hide in shadowed allies to avoid social persecution. In the theme of revolution, the rich control what is acceptable, and to them, Frankenstein's monster definitely does not fit the mold. Next, he seeks asylum in a small barn. The place where he finds refuge is a cold dark corner symbolic of how society forces the non-elite from their spheres to places where they cannot be seen or heard and therefor do not exist. After the monster saves the starving family by harvesting their crops, they repay him by running him off their land. This incident repeats itself throughout his journeys. Finally, the creature travels to the cold wastelands of the Arctic Circle. In this uninhabitable place there is no one to persecute him, and Frankenstein maliciously continues to follow his own invention, hoping to completely destroy it. When Frankenstein dies, his monster is the first to come lay his body to rest and the first to follow him into the afterlife.

Frankenstein's monster fits the idea of a true hero, rather than the romantic view of heroism shared by society. He is chivalrous and loyal. Showing his chivalry by helping a family in need, he still accepts their hatred of him. He helps others although he receives nothing in return and holds absolute loyalty to his creator. Frankenstein shuns his creation and devotes his life to killing the monster. However, the same monster he hunts until death is the first to show respect to the fallen master after his death. The monster builds a funeral pyre to honour Frankenstein whose despite for him is ceaseless. His loyalty extends as far as the ritual suicide he commits while cremating the body of his creator.

Most importantly, the monster is true to himself. Society wishes that he would cease to exist, but their opinion is irrelevant to him. His creator disdains him, but the monster learns to cope with his own emotions, supporting himself. The monster relies solely on what he believes in, not in what society believes to be important. His actions are based upon his own assessments of situations, rather than what is socially acceptable.

Grendel, like Frankenstein's monster, is isolated from society, and his actions classify him as a true hero. Grendel has little outside influence and has to rely on his own emotions to make decisions. Grendel is the epitome of "blind courage". For example, when the bull attacks Grendel, he simply calculates the bull's movements and fearlessly moves out of the way. Even when the bull rips through his leg, Grendel is not afraid.
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