There is an argument raised about whether Grendel is the civilized or Hrothgar is the civilized character in the novel. Not only do both characters illustrate how they live a civilized life, they both demonstrate how they live an uncivilized life. The use of naturalism in the novel shows the civilized side to Grendel's approach to life. He uses the forest as his dwelling and continues to guard it from Hrothgar during the entirety of the novel. However, Grendel also shows how he can be uncivilized by killing people and animals that he feels are inconsequential. Sometimes he leaves them withering away, instead of killing them all the way.
To be civilized is to live in a cultural state of being. Grendel is an animal born into the world by his mother. Instead of living in a cave, which an uncivilized animal would live, he resides in the forest. The forest is a place where most all animals live in harmony with one another. Grendel feels he has to protect his "home- or the forest, from intruders, such as Hrothgar and other threatening animals. Grendel shows traits of humanity such as, protecting his home and his values from threatening objects. " I staggered out into the open and up toward the hall with my burden, groaning out, mercy! Peace! I sank to my knees, crying friend! Friend! (pg 51 & 52)- However, the difference between humans and Grendel is the ability to reason and to find the difference between who is a "threat- and who is not. This is what makes Grendel uncivilized.
Grendel has a sadistic streak in his personality. He shows two different sides during the story. Early in the book we tend to see his side of compassion for his mother in a sort of baby form. He cries and whines for his mother. Later in the book, we soon learn that Grendel also kills and is not ashamed by this. Many times he finds himself imaging killing people who have had no bearing on his life. "It is a matter of fact that I have never killed a dear in all my life and never will.
While Grendel was full of themes, one of the main ones I noticed was Grendel's desire for community. Grendel is isolated from civilization because he is a monster. ... Therefore, Grendel is a lot like a teenager himself. ... However, Grendel is a dynamic character. ... Grendel then abandons all hope for ever being accepted into civilization, and declares his life worthless. ...
To create the most malevolent images, the poet describes Grendel in a variety of ways portraying Grendel as a direct representation of what the Anglo-Saxon society deems the highest level of evil as. ... As a result, after all his killings, he "never showed remorse." (11) This idea that Grendel knows of only evil creates fear to all the Anglo-Saxon people, for Grendel does not care who he kills. ... Without rhyme or reason, Grendel attacks when the people least expect it. ... For any society, the depictions of evil vary based on the type of civilization. Although Grendel would bring immens...
Therefore, while they are still placed outside of the boundaries of Human civilization, they are, at the same time, a part of it as they represent the evils of the culture whose imagination spawned them. From the moment he appears in the story, Grendel is an outcast in every conceivable manner. ... Furthermore, whereas Grendel lived just on the outskirts of civilization in the fens, his mother dwelled in a land of almost surrealistic horror, estranged from anything recognizable as even remotely natural, a cold murky lake in a desolate landscape which is populated by strange beasts...
Grendel: Predestined to Evil? ... The poet seeks to present Grendel as pure evil. ... Seeing as, he attacks the Danes because he does not understand them and the core values of civilization among them: allegiance, honor, and community. ... The battle between Grendel and Beowulf is an intense personal struggle for Grendel. ... It is really up to Grendel to change. ...
In my opinion, Grendel written by John Gardner is a moral fiction. ... Representing the human civilization as a world of sin and evil. ... This is where Grendel is first exposed to lies. ... Grendel can be perceived as the victim of the story. ... Grendel can speak, think and have feelings. ...
The epic hero is the central character in the story that reflects the traits, characteristics, or values that the civilization hold in high esteem. ... Clues about the civilization's values can also be found in the general plot and outcome of the tale. ... Grendel terrorizes the people of the land, ripping men apart with his brute strength. ... Grendel's evil nature is explained by the absence of God in his life: " He [Beowulf] never Dared to touch king Hrothgar's glorious Throne, protected by God - God, Whose love Grendel could not know." ... The character of Grendel is evi...
