Frankenstein And Grendel Analysis

Every book is the same with only small differences. A story always consists of a problem and some sort of hero that has to solve it. In the monster classics Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, and Grendel, by John Gardner, a paralyzing monster inhabits countries in Europe. The creatures can communicate in the people’s native language, but their appearance always restricts their human attributes. The novels Frankenstein and Grendel follow similar structures in their female characters, language, and viewpoints, resulting in essentially the same book, just with different details.
In both stories, the man in a position of power sends his daughter or sister off to be married in an attempt to better himself. The men only care about themselves, for if …show more content…
Grendel grows up with his mother who supposedly once could communicate but is now unable to. He practically has no one to talk to, which could be a main factor as to why Grendel is so enticed with the way others can speak with one another. This leads him to develop the language himself. Grendel would listen to the Shaper, Hrothgar, and the people of Hart speak and learn the words. It was as if he was a child exposed to all of these new words, and picked up dialogue and phrases as well as words used in frustrating situations like swears. Much like Grendel, Chauncey observed those around him to learn social cues through the poor family of three, Felix, Agatha, and their blind father. Then when Safie, Felix’s soon to be bride, arrived and could not speak French either, Chauncey was able to learn the language hand in hand with her. Chauncey is similar to Grendel as he has very few people in which he can speak with; one being his own creator Frankenstein and another being the blind father. When Agatha, Felix, and Safie found Chauncey in their house speaking with the father whom clearly could not see his guest, they fainted on the spot and rushed him out of the house. Both monsters could also hold conversations with civilians, but only when they feared for their life and felt as though a conversation with these gruesome figures could change their fate. Not …show more content…
Chauncey did not kill Richard after Frankenstein died, showing primarily his battle was with Victor, not humanity itself. Both also rely on other factors as the other factors rely on them. Hrothgar, Beowulf, and the people of Hart rely on Grendel to fear something and Grendel relies on them to have some meaning to life. Chauncey relies on Frankenstein to give him meaning as he does not kill him, and continues to lead him onto his whereabouts while in the Arctic. After his fiancé’s death, Victor is only living to take revenge on his creation, thus relying on Chauncey to keep an end goal in