Existentialism is an extreme, really almost absurdist view that there is no inherent truth or meaning in the universe. The classic existentialism time period occurred after World War II, as a result of the alienation and bitterness felt by so many people. Grendel, the companion piece to Beowulf was written by John Gardner in 1971, yet still holds many existentialist ideals. .
Grendel is a wretched sort of beast, whose suffering results from hi intelligent and inability to use it. Grendel sarcastically remarks "It was not always like this of, course. On occasion it's been worse. No matter, no matter- (7). This quote reveals the horrible nature of the universe and how it does not matter to Grendel. Existentialists are very much concerned with the importance of the individual, how they must create their own existence/purpose and no one else matters, " holding conversation with the only friend and comfort this world affords, my shadow- (8). .
However, the individual almost always fails to create meaningfulness, "Still playing cat and mouse with the universe,"" (10) and this effort creates more misery. Grendel's comments can be easily misinterpreted as pessimism, until he makes an obvious declaration. .
This declaration comes after Grendel had been stuck in a tree and beat by men, "I understood that the world was nothing: a mechanical chaos of casual, brute enmity on which we stupidly impose our hopes and fears. I understood that, finally and absolutely, I alone exist. All the rest, I saw, is merely what pushes me, or what I push against, blindly "as blindly as all that is not myself pushes back. I create the whole universe, blink by blink- (21-22). Grendel has had an epiphany, in which he fully accepts existentialism- he is the one that matters, exists, and he is the creator of the universe. This discovery detaches him even more from those around him.
Grendel is frustrated that he can not tell his mother, who can't understand language, what happened to him.
The first existentialists came to their beliefs because of an event that made them re-evaluate themselves and their ideals. ... The second existentialist theme is that of anxiety. ... Grendel is always questioning his existence. ... This is the third existentialist them: absurdity. ... The forth existentialist them is that of nothingness. ...
Existentialist Monster When considering examples of contemporary literature that embody subliminal philosophy, no greater example comes to mind that John Gardner's Grendel. ... During the chapter-long dialogue, the dragon beings to evoke the Existentialist within Grendel. ... Grendel himself, however, cannot yet be considered an Existentialist. ... He is not yet, however, by any means an Existentialist. ... At this point in the novel, one may actually classify Grendel himself as being an Existentialist (at least for the time being). ...