Grendel throughout the course of the book changes his identity because of the experiences he has with the characters he meets. He is portrayed as a bloodthirsty descendant of Cain from Beowulf, but is perceived differently in the book Grendel. With this in mind, the three characters that effect Grendel's personality and self image change is Hrothgar, The Shaper and Wealhtheow.
First, Grendel's relationship with Hrothgar represents utter hatred. To begin with, Hrothgar has built a mead hall in Herot, to celebrate God and his power. However, Grendel hates God because of his nihilistic point of view and makes Hrothgar his enemy. For instance, Grendel states,”It wasn't because he threw the battle-ax that i turned on Hrothgar. That was mere midnight foolishness... it wasn't until later, when i was full-grown and Hrothgar was an old man, that i settled …show more content…
In the second year of Grendel’s raids on the Danes, he discovers Wealhtheow. Again, Grendel states,”My chest was full of pain, my eyes smarted, and I was afraid—O monstrous trick against reason—I was afraid I was about to sob. I wanted to smash things, bring down the night with my howl of rage. But I kept still. She was beautiful, as innocent as dawn on winter hills. She tore me apart as once the Shaper's song had done.” (Gardner 100) Thus, Grendel has feelings for Wealtheow and cannot contain himself. Furthermore, Wealtheow defies all of Grendel's ideas about mankind. Indeed, Grendel states,” and so in my cave, coughing from the smoke and clenching feet on fire with chilblains, I ground my teeth on my own absurdity. Whatever their excuse might be, I had none, I knew: I had seen the dragon. Ashes to ashes. And yet I was teased—tortured by the red of her hair and the set of her chin and the white of her shoulders—teased toward disbelief in the dragon's truths.” (Gardner 108) This changed Grendel’s image because wealtheow decreased his lust for blood and made him feel
First, Grendel's relationship with Hrothgar represents utter hatred. To begin with, Hrothgar has built a mead hall in Herot, to celebrate God and his power. However, Grendel hates God because of his nihilistic point of view and makes Hrothgar his enemy. For instance, Grendel states,”It wasn't because he threw the battle-ax that i turned on Hrothgar. That was mere midnight foolishness... it wasn't until later, when i was full-grown and Hrothgar was an old man, that i settled …show more content…
In the second year of Grendel’s raids on the Danes, he discovers Wealhtheow. Again, Grendel states,”My chest was full of pain, my eyes smarted, and I was afraid—O monstrous trick against reason—I was afraid I was about to sob. I wanted to smash things, bring down the night with my howl of rage. But I kept still. She was beautiful, as innocent as dawn on winter hills. She tore me apart as once the Shaper's song had done.” (Gardner 100) Thus, Grendel has feelings for Wealtheow and cannot contain himself. Furthermore, Wealtheow defies all of Grendel's ideas about mankind. Indeed, Grendel states,” and so in my cave, coughing from the smoke and clenching feet on fire with chilblains, I ground my teeth on my own absurdity. Whatever their excuse might be, I had none, I knew: I had seen the dragon. Ashes to ashes. And yet I was teased—tortured by the red of her hair and the set of her chin and the white of her shoulders—teased toward disbelief in the dragon's truths.” (Gardner 108) This changed Grendel’s image because wealtheow decreased his lust for blood and made him feel