In the many novels that contain monsters or evil deities, it is very rare for the authors to reveal the thoughts and feelings of the antagonists themselves. Often the readers focus on the heroic deeds of the protagonist and throw their hands up in disgust whenever evil prevails. However in the case of the novels Grendel and Frankenstein, the thoughts and feelings of Grendel and the “Monster” have a significant role in the plot of the story. The use of emotions and thoughts make Grendel in the novel very similar to the “Monster” in the novel Frankenstein because both Grendel and the “Monster” are seen as outcasts, question their existence, and ultimately meet their demise.
It is easily identified early in the novel that Grendel is seen as an …show more content…
Dealing with their struggles has given them a lot of time to really think about their life and observe life outside of theirs. Early in the story, Grendel is seen to be talking to himself a lot of the time, and rarely to his mother. His life thus far has been nothing but going out to hunt for food and remain in the cave until food is needed again. He used to ask his mother, “Why are we here… why do we stand this putrid, stinking hole?” (Grendel 11), questioning his existence in the world, trying to find a reason as to why he and his mother were alive. The “Monster” in the novel Frankenstein has a similar conflict to Grendel’s as he explains his reasoning for his attacks on Frankenstein’s friends and family. He tells Frankenstein that throughout all of his travels, he has, “Never yet seen a being resembling me or who claimed any intercourse with me…” And asks him, “What was I?” (Frankenstein 116). The “Monster’s” side of the story reveals that all he wanted to do was to help the people he had observed, but was soon looked upon with disgust when he reveals himself to them. He questions Frankenstein about why he was created, why was he created that way, and what was he created for. However Frankenstein was too focused on the destruction of his creation, much like that of the people who
It is easily identified early in the novel that Grendel is seen as an …show more content…
Dealing with their struggles has given them a lot of time to really think about their life and observe life outside of theirs. Early in the story, Grendel is seen to be talking to himself a lot of the time, and rarely to his mother. His life thus far has been nothing but going out to hunt for food and remain in the cave until food is needed again. He used to ask his mother, “Why are we here… why do we stand this putrid, stinking hole?” (Grendel 11), questioning his existence in the world, trying to find a reason as to why he and his mother were alive. The “Monster” in the novel Frankenstein has a similar conflict to Grendel’s as he explains his reasoning for his attacks on Frankenstein’s friends and family. He tells Frankenstein that throughout all of his travels, he has, “Never yet seen a being resembling me or who claimed any intercourse with me…” And asks him, “What was I?” (Frankenstein 116). The “Monster’s” side of the story reveals that all he wanted to do was to help the people he had observed, but was soon looked upon with disgust when he reveals himself to them. He questions Frankenstein about why he was created, why was he created that way, and what was he created for. However Frankenstein was too focused on the destruction of his creation, much like that of the people who