Examples Of Nihilism In Beowulf

How would it feel to be a scary monster that doesn’t understand his position in world. Over the course of his life, Grendel goes on a journey of self-discovery and eventually develops nihilistic views. Later these ideas are disproved by the hero Beowulf in a battle of “good” vs. “evil”. In the end Gardner proves that the virtues of individuality and meaning triumph over meaningless violence and destruction. Berserker, momento mori, and comitatus are continued in both the novel and the epic. Nihilism, as well as existentialism, Anglo-Saxon culture, and a host of other philosophies are boldly explored in Grendel, a novel by John Gardner, and Beowulf, an epic poem.
There are countless philosophies and thoughts in Grendel, the two he satirizes the most are nihilism and existentialism. The “evil” monster Grendel begins life, as an existentialist. He leaves his mother’s cave and is quickly introduced to a …show more content…
This is why comitatus is an important theme to members of the kingdom. However, in days before greatness, Hrothgar was "hardly stronger than the others, began to outstrip the rest. . .” (Grendel 37). The seemingly amazing abilities as leader of the kingdom that he supposedly possessed are not the only factors that pitch in to Hrothgar's reputation. At one point of the novel the “shaper” arrives at Hrothgar's busy mead hall.
Unlike other poets at the mead halls, the shaper can sing of a false past so great have to be true. By doing so, he preaches about the Thanes to live-up to their glory that was never true. Some say that shaper is responsible for the advancement for Thanes into the kingdom. He even convinces Grendel that the lies the shaper sings are actually true. This is shown when he says "I knew them, had watched them; yet the things he said seemed true" (Grendel 47). The shaper is peak and then downfall of the Thane's great rein. His death brings great depression and sadness throughout the