Nihilism In Grendel's Existential Journey

Of the myriad themes expressed in John Gardner’s Grendel (1971), perhaps the most prominent are those of meaning and self-discovery. Grendel’s moral quest revolves around his search for the meaning of life. Over the course of his existential journey, Grendel matures as his views on the meaning of his existence drastically transform. Grendel is challenged with several philosophies—solipsism, existentialism, and nihilism—that alter his understanding of the meaning of his existence. Additionally, Grendel looks to human activity for answers regarding his moral quandary. In his attempts to discover his purpose, Grendel observes and rejects the key human values of civilization and religion. Grendel’s struggle to find meaning of his existence and …show more content…
The Shaper, who creates fables that provide a sense of purpose and order to Danish life, challenges Grendel’s views on the meaning of the world: the Shaper “had torn up the past by its thick, gnarled roots and transmuted it, and they, who knew the truth, remembered it his way,” (Gardner 43). The Shaper manipulates the truth and produces a sense of false reality. The Shaper’s songs even manipulate Grendel: “Even to me, incredibly, he had made it all seem true and very fine,” (Gardner 43). Grendel’s philosophy is challenged once more, as he wants to believe what he hears from the Shaper, but cannot fully deny reality. Grendel’s impasse leads him to call himself “a two-headed beast,” or a Gemini, the third astrological symbol. In the Shaper’s story of creation, “he told of an ancient feud between two brothers which split all the world between darkness and light. And I, Grendel, was the dark side…The terrible race God cursed,” (Gardner 51). At this point, Grendel is fully hypnotized by the Shaper’s tale and accepts his role as the descendant of Cain. Grendel has now shifted his philosophy from a solipsist who only focuses on his own purpose in the world, to a believer in faith whose purpose is to play a larger role in society. Even though Grendel “must be the outcast, cursed by the rules of this hideous fable,” he is satisfied that he has found a purpose …show more content…
Unlike the Shaper, who produces a sense of meaning in the world, the dragon is a full on nihilist who believes the world is devoid or meaning and purpose. Since the dragon knows “the beginning, the present, the end…all time, all space,” he concludes that the world is meaningless (Gardner 63). The dragon poses the following questions to Grendel in regards to Shaper’s fables: “What god? Where? Life force, you mean? The principle of process?” (Gardner 74). The dragon believes the Shaper simply fills the world with beautiful images: “That’s where the Shaper saves [the Danes]. Provides an allusion of reality…it keeps them going-for what that’s worth,” (Gardner 65). This existential and nihilistic viewpoint challenges Grendel’s philosophy and prevents him from fully embracing the Shaper’s philosophy. Grendel ultimately falls short of believing in the faith and fables of the Shaper because Grendel realizes that it is not completely truthful. The dragon advises Grendel to live according to nature: “You are…the brute existent by which they learn to define themselves…You are mankind,” (Gardner 73). Because the world has no purpose, the dragon recommends Grendel “seek out gold and sit on it,” (Grendel 74). Following Grendel’s discussion with the dragon, Grendel has once again shifted his views on the meaning of life and becomes an existential skeptic in regards to the meaning of life and