Similarities Between Frankenstein And Grendel

What is the most important component within a novel that everyone ends up completely bashing or praising? The character portrayals are the most important essence of a novel as these portrayals help the reader understand the plot and gain emotional attachments to characters in the book. The character of Frankenstein’s monster in Mary Shelley’s novel is a much more dynamic character than the character Grendel in John Gardner’s novel. Besides the two being fiends to humanity the many feelings Frankenstein’s monster evokes on the reader, the backstory we get, and his hopelessness of being accepted into society is done on a much greater scale compared to Grendel’s. Perhaps the most crucial distinction between Grendel and Frankenstein’s monster is the framework set for the characters. The monster was said to be a “miserable wretch” who only “muttered some inarticulate sounds” to something that spoke fluently and had feelings of a …show more content…
There are instances where Shelley describes Frankenstein’s monster as a “fallen angel” who had his bliss taken away from him for no reason which made him a beast to society but if he is given another chance he would “be virtuous” once again (Ch. 10). We see that although the monster is a very fearsome creature and evokes fear in everyone including the reader, he can still be a sympathetic person and evoke sympathy in the reader. Gardner expresses Grendel to be the “brute existent by which” humans “define themselves” and rather than trying to go against this statement Grendel just accepts this and continues to go against mankind (73). If Grendel were to at least attempt to go against this statement and befriend mankind, we would see amazing character development. This doesn’t happen and we see continue to complain how he will never be accepted but never tries unlike the monster who constantly tried to compromise but still failed in the