Grendel

4 Pages 988 Words

Grendel, though he needs to kill to do so, functions very well in his own sphere. Grendel survives in a hostile climate where he is hated and feared by all. He lives in a cave protected by firesnakes so as to physically, as well as spiritually, separate himself from the society that detests, yet admires, him. Grendel is "the brute existent by which [humankind] learns to define itself"(Gardner 73). Hrothgar's thanes continually try to extinguish Grendel's infernal rage, while he simply wishes to live in harmony with them.
On the other hand, Grendel makes numerous attempts to assimilate into society, but he is repeatedly turned back. Early in his life, Grendel dreams of associating with Hrothgar's great warriors. Nightly, Grendel goes down to the meadhall to listen to Hrothgar's stories and the thanes' heroism, but most of all, he comes to hear the Shaper. The Shaper's stories are Grendel's only education as they enlighten him to the history of the society that he yearns to join. "[The Shaper] changed the world, had torn up its past by its thick gnarled roots and had transmuted it, and they, who knew the truth, remembered it his way- and so did [Grendel]"(Gardner 43). Upon Grendel's first meeting with Hrothgar, the great hero tries to kill him by chopping him out of a tree. "The king (Hrothgar) snatches an ax from the man beside him and, without any warning, he hurls it at [Grendel]"(Gardner 27). After being attacked by those he so admires, he turns against them to wreak havoc on their civilizat!
ion.
This revolution is most evident in John Gardner's Grendel. In Hrothgar's meadhall, his thanes are discussing the heroic revolution with the Shaper. According to the Shaper, the kingdom, those in power, pretends to be protecting the values of all people. Supposedly, the revolution causes the kingdom to save the values of the community-regulate compromise- improve the quality of the commonwealth. In other words, protect the power of the peo...