Grendel's Self Image In Beowulf By John Gardner

Grendel's self image is impacted greatly by Unferth, The Dragon and The Shaper in Grendel by John Gardner. To begin with Grendel’s image is impacted by Unferth because Unferth was the very first person that Grendel has ever talked too. Unferth begins to talk to Grendel by calling him a monster in front of all the thane’s that were around, Unferth kind of threatened Grendel because he told him that death was coming his way. In the beginning of their relationship Unferth wanted Grendel dead, even though he was showing so much fear. In Grendel, Unferth is shown that he has fear towards Grendel by “I shook my head at him, wickedly smiling. “Reputation!” I said, pretending to be much impressed.” (Gardner 83). Grendel gets Unferth to go down to his cave it was …show more content…
Grendel noticed that his mother sensed that their was a man in their cave, Grendel's mother went to kill Unferth but Grendel stopped his mother from killing Unferth. In the book Grendel, “ I saw my mother moving slowly and silently past me, blue murder in her eyes. I understood instantly, not with my mind but with something quicker, and I darted around in front to block her way. I pushed her back” (Gardner 86). By Grendel blocking his mother from killing Unferth is shows that he really does care about men. By Grendel saving Unferth from getting killed by his mother this shows that Grendel is not really a monster as described in the story. Grendel’s self image is also demonstrated by the dragons presence in Grendel’s life. The Dragon really makes Grendel’s true self come out in Grendel because Grendel for the first time sees things that he had not seen ever. Grendel felt like he can have a really close relationship with the dragon, Grendel has never had this connection with any other person or animal because so Grendel really enjoyed the dragon's presence. “Flattering me into tormenting them because he, in his sullen hole, loved viciousness” (Gardner