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Charactor analysis of Macbeth

 


             Though Existentialism manifests itself throughout the novel, it is not until later that it becomes an apparent driving force for the main characters. In the fifth chapter, Grendel meets a dragon dwelling within a cave that changes his perspectives and philosophies. During the chapter-long dialogue, the dragon beings to evoke the Existentialist within Grendel. At one point in the debate of theories between he and the dragon, he states, "Why shouldn't one change one's ways, improve one's character- (Grendel, pg 72). This is perhaps his most existential statement in the novel. It is in fact proof of his modification from the God fearing follower of the Shaper's melodies into the Existentialist self empowered being, born of the dragon's diatribe. Though the dragon presented himself more as a nihilistic materialist, who is to say the Grendel completely understood the dragon's complicated and long-winded theories and explanations? Rather, it can be determined that Grendel took from the dragon what he understood, and presumed the remainder of the information to develop his own philosophy that is, in essence, Existentialism. Grendel states in the opening of the next chapter, "Whatever I may have understood or misunderstood in the dragon's talk, something much deeper stayed with me- (Grendel, pg. 75). This indicates that perhaps he did misinterpret some of the information bestowed on him, however he did seem to draw from it an existential core. Grendel himself, however, cannot yet be considered an Existentialist. .
             After the interview with the dragon, Grendel does appear to begin showing existential traits. He is not yet, however, by any means an Existentialist. In fact, he seems more a nihilist, as is the dragon. This is best exemplified at the end of the tenth chapter, after the shaper has just passed away. At the close of the chapter, the last sentence, in fact, Grendel utters the words "nihil ex nihilo- (Grendel, pg.


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