In conclusion, in both of the novels the theme of isolation is presented through Grendel. He becomes evil, wants to be accepted, he feels helpless and he wants to take revenge. Both of the novels show that Grendel is alone and he is characterized as a evil monster because he doesn't know anything, but to do bad things to other people. Grendel doesn’t have intentions to kill people but his loneliness leads him to become evil because he feels that he is unwanted in his world. All in all, Grendel’s isolation is caused by not being understood and listened. Loneliness can affect people's self esteem and lead them to take many bad decisions.
Up until the end of Chapter 7, Grendel’s actions are influenced by the dragon. He believes nothing matters, there is no good or bad, and everybody eventually dies. The people of Heort know Grendel as a monster and a killer and he lives up to his reputation.
Grendel has changed from a impressionable and inquisitive cynical monster in the beginning, to a grieving child of Cain, longing for purpose. From this, he then transitions into a very aggressive monster, attacking ruthlessly but not without thought. After Grendel meets Beowulf, another character that his once again influenced his thought killing him, he slowly dies and finally understands everything he’s gone through. His last lines “Poor Grendel's had an accident," (He) whispers. " So may you all.”
John Gardner’s wrote Grendel in a first point of view whereas, in Beowulf epic had Grendel in third point of view. Gardner’s novel has made a significant picture for Grendel than the epic. The good and evil personality has been the main conflict for both stories. However, Grendel in Gardner’s novel is confused how the universe goes but realized that there is some sort of pattern going on. Grendel is seeking to find the meaning of the life.
Grendel in the novel is more similar than different to "the monster" in Frankenstein because Grendel in the novel is miserable, "the monster" in Frankenstein is alone, and Grendel in the novel realizes who he is or what he wants. In the beginning of the story Grendel doesn’t understand why his mother and he have to hide from the men. He has no one to talk to and feels like his mom hates him because she is always ignoring him and doesn't talk much. Grendel feels miserable as if there was no point in living.
This time however, he is swept away by a person name the Shaper, who Grendel is ultimately scared of, because of the fact that the shaper is very good at changing the view of people very easily. During this same period, Grendel started to become more violent as well, first by attacking the humans. Grendel didn’t like the way Hrothgar lived and made the Mead Hall and in response, Grendel started to attack it at night. He killed anyone and everything that came into his sight, and even ate the humans. Grendel now became a real threat to the humans, which inevitably changed his status from sinister to pure
Pointless, ridiculous monster crouched in the shadows, stinking of dead men, murdered children, martyred cows” (Gardner 54). Grendel recognizes that it is the isolation that has turned him into what he is. He has seen how the humans have rejected him and tried to kill him, the first person viewpoint allows us to share this experience with
“I was Grendel, Ruiner of Meadhalls, Wrecker of Kings! But also, as never before, I was alone.” (Grendel, p. 80) Grendel says this depressing statement when he learns that the enchantment placed upon him by the dragon has left him unable to be harmed by the Scylding's weapons. He vainly basks in his new-found glory, but he soon has the realization that his imperviousness has now separated him even more from the place he yearns for among men.
In Grendel by John Gardener, the author describes a humane-minded monster’s, Grendel, struggle to find a purpose due to his isolation with the world. Gardener uses exuberant techniques of diction and sensory imagery to depict the theme. The utilizations capture every single detail of Grendel’s thoughts and struggles for existence. The beginning of the novel introduces the readers to Grendel’s past and his uprising conflicts with humankind due to their unacceptance of him. Grendel and his mother are unable to communicate and he feels the “shocking separateness” between them.
Grendel is classified as a monster due to his outsider status of being an outcast, unreligious, and dishonorable, which establishes him as the antithesis of Anglo Saxon culture. As an outcast of society, Grendel represents the idea that in Anglo Saxon culture unity and cooperation is what holds society together. In a world classified by kinship and strong family lineage, Grendel is “conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain, murderous creatures banished by God” (Heaney 22). In a society focused upon blood lineage and strong family ties, to be related to a “monster“ in any form is something sinful, and cause enough for complete hatred.
Throughout the novel Grendel by John Gardner, Grendel comes across as a ruthless monster who takes pride in murdering others. His actions give the impression that he is an evil figure, but in hindsight he is not as evil as he appears to be. Gardner makes the readers feel sympathy for Grendel because Grendel lives a lonely life, is consistently treated poorly, and attempts to make peace. If Grendel was truly evil, readers would have difficulty having sympathy for him. Therefore, Grendel is not evil and is no different than the rest of humanity.
Grendel remains in an inner conflict with his beliefs throughout the entire story. He is directed by two compelling desires in which play a role in introducing him to the divergences between good and evil. The Shaper convinces him with his meaningful music, whereas the dragon persuades him through his ideology of nihilism. Both the Shaper and the dragon play a part in influencing his views on the human society.
Grendel in both stories is described as a vicious "Monster", but is viewed differently. The character of Grendel, in the novel by John Gardner, portrays a different visualization than that of Grendel in the epic poem Beowulf. In the novel the story is told in first person point of view which gives Grendel human qualities while Grendel in Beowulf is told in third person point of view not giving Grendel his standpoint. In both works, the authors give two different perspectives of Grendel. Grendel in the novel is not seen as a "Monster", but as a human that has emotions and is very sympathetic about everything that comes his way.
In John Gardner’s novel Grendel the tale is portrayed from Grendel’s point of view, a villain who wreaks havoc on Hrothgar’s lands and leaves his citizens in fear. This affects the way we construe the theme of isolation in the novel which makes Grendel appear increasingly more innocent than the readers expect, and he is also victimized by the citizens, which causes him to be a recluse in society. Multiple times, Grendel attempts to conversate with the people, but he has been secluded for so many years that nobody can comprehend his words “Talking, talking, spinning a spell, pale skin of words that closes me in like a coffin. Not in a language that anyone any longer understands-
It is vital as people need to have a sense of belonging and acceptance from their social group such as family and friends to prevent form loneliness. Worse still, a new research suggests that loneliness and social isolation are as much a threat to our health. (Gupta, 2015). The next level of needs is self-esteem needs such as achievement, independence, status, prestige and managerial responsibility
Grendel is a very dangerous and and scary monster. Grendel is a humongous overpowered monster that no ordinary person can defeat. Grendel is suppose to symbolize death because he goes around killing innocent people around Hrothgar kingdom. This tells us that the characters in the poem are going through a lot and that they are in need of desperate