One literary theory I observed throughout chapter 2 of Grendel is solipsism. The definition of solipsism is a theory that an individual will recognize that he himself is the only truth to the reality. One example of Gardner’s use of Solipsism is when he explains that on page 17, “We were one thing, like the wall and the rock growing out from it.” In contrast, he additionally contrast on page 17 with “the smooth span of packed dirt between him and his mother, and the shocking separateness from him in his mother’s eyes” (p.17). This quote clearly exemplifies solipsism as being an isolated state where people only depend on themselves and not others. Grendel thought he could trust his mother when he need help solving problems. However, his mother only confronted him with her claws, separating herself from Grendel.
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Another example of Gardener’s use of solipsism is when he faced the bull. He identified himself as reality on page 22, “I understood that the world was nothing: a mechanical chaos of causal, brute enmity on which we stupidly impose our hopes and fears. I understand that, finally and absolutely, I alone exist.” (Gardener). This quote clearly exemplifies solipsism as the meaning of reality is relied on an individual’s morality. Grendel called for his mother when a bull came towards him, but she never came. In this scene, Grendel finally realized that his mother was not going to save him, no matter how hard he cried. Instead, he reminded himself that he only exist. With his depressed and isolated state, Grendel could finally look out for himself without the aid of his mother. Grendel has now changed from a child’s point of view to a man’s point of view. Similar to Grendel, the Apostle Paul describes this process in 1 Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me”
Another example of Gardener’s use of solipsism is when he faced the bull. He identified himself as reality on page 22, “I understood that the world was nothing: a mechanical chaos of causal, brute enmity on which we stupidly impose our hopes and fears. I understand that, finally and absolutely, I alone exist.” (Gardener). This quote clearly exemplifies solipsism as the meaning of reality is relied on an individual’s morality. Grendel called for his mother when a bull came towards him, but she never came. In this scene, Grendel finally realized that his mother was not going to save him, no matter how hard he cried. Instead, he reminded himself that he only exist. With his depressed and isolated state, Grendel could finally look out for himself without the aid of his mother. Grendel has now changed from a child’s point of view to a man’s point of view. Similar to Grendel, the Apostle Paul describes this process in 1 Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me”