There is no greater fear than that of being isolated. John Gardner allows us to understand the motivations and fears of Grendel, who was the main antagonist in Beowulf, in his novel Grendel. As the story elucidates the emotionally scarring events that lead Grendel into an existential crisis, the reader is captivated and led through reflecting on their own actions and how events in their own past may have influenced them as well.
Grendel by John Gardner guides the reader through the story of Grendel and his war with Hothragar over the last 12 years. The book focuses on the last year of this war, but periodically flashes back to Grendel's childhood. The author also provides flashbacks to the last 12 years of Grendel's war with the humans. …show more content…
The many hidden metaphors and the depth of some of the characters assists the reader in considering the philosophy behind the characters who's nature could have been misinterpreted in Beowulf. In Grendel, we are first offered the story through Grendel's childish mind. This is the most enjoyable section of the book although it is also very frustrating. This is because he has not yet been exposed to the dangers and cruelty of the world, and he attempts to interact with the beings and humans around him. However, as he looses his childish mind and enters an existential crisis, Grendel begins to grow up. He begins to understand how cruel and tragic the world can be through his realization and fear of his isolation. He adopts a new view, believing that he alone exists, and all other beings were either what he pushed against or simply what held him back. This character development throughout his existential crisis is aided by other characters around him. The dragon's words, for example, spoken at a time of great distress for Grendel, resonate within him and influence him to continue to grow and develop. Events that may seem unimportant to Grendel become those that drive him into realizing that his childish mind is severely underdeveloped for the newly discovered cruel, merciless society around him. The author's method of writing and displaying these changes in Grendel's character captivate the reader
Grendel by John Gardner guides the reader through the story of Grendel and his war with Hothragar over the last 12 years. The book focuses on the last year of this war, but periodically flashes back to Grendel's childhood. The author also provides flashbacks to the last 12 years of Grendel's war with the humans. …show more content…
The many hidden metaphors and the depth of some of the characters assists the reader in considering the philosophy behind the characters who's nature could have been misinterpreted in Beowulf. In Grendel, we are first offered the story through Grendel's childish mind. This is the most enjoyable section of the book although it is also very frustrating. This is because he has not yet been exposed to the dangers and cruelty of the world, and he attempts to interact with the beings and humans around him. However, as he looses his childish mind and enters an existential crisis, Grendel begins to grow up. He begins to understand how cruel and tragic the world can be through his realization and fear of his isolation. He adopts a new view, believing that he alone exists, and all other beings were either what he pushed against or simply what held him back. This character development throughout his existential crisis is aided by other characters around him. The dragon's words, for example, spoken at a time of great distress for Grendel, resonate within him and influence him to continue to grow and develop. Events that may seem unimportant to Grendel become those that drive him into realizing that his childish mind is severely underdeveloped for the newly discovered cruel, merciless society around him. The author's method of writing and displaying these changes in Grendel's character captivate the reader