Examples Of Nihilism In Grendel

“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” (Grendel 21). John Gardner, author of Grendel, has his protagonist Grendel come to this revelation early on in the book when the bull is attacking him (Grendel 20). This quote truly exemplifies Grendel’s nihilistic and misanthropic view of life that the world is basically separated into two categories: those who are Grendel and those who are not Grendel. Being the demonic monster that he is, Grendel is alienated and hunted by the only humanity he knows, the Anglo-Saxons. Among those are other characters who shape the downfall of Grendel causing him to …show more content…
With Hrothgar, Grendel explores the deep flaws that a man of complete wealth and power can possess (Grendel 121). This exposure of Hrothgar’s deplorable state does not at all concern Grendel, as the monster believes that his constant torment to Hrothgar’s people only shapes them into better, stronger human beings. When Grendel asks if the reader questions how Grendel can repeatedly attack Hrothgar, Grendel replies with “I have no answer, except perhaps this: why should I not? Has he made any move to deserve my kindness?” (Grendel 122). With Beowulf, Grendel comes face-to-face with real, human evil. Upon arriving, Beowulf outwardly seems like a handsome, stout man and that greatly concerns Grendel for reasons he does not fully comprehend. But when battling Beowulf, Grendel realizes the complete blood thirst and malevolence that lies deeply within a human. The line between human and monster is blurred as Grendel witnesses hallucinations of Beowulf transforming into a dragon-like creature (Grendel 169). Everything he was led to believe about humankind is tarnished as Grendel apprehends the utter joy that Beowulf finds in murdering the protagonist. Monsters and humans are more closely linked than what Grendel might of