Similarities Between The Shaper And The Dragon In Grendel

In a struggle to find his identity, Grendel spends the entire novel wrestling with the concepts of existence and purpose. Causing a violent conflict in his mind, the two tear Grendel’s mind apart as the realization of who he is progresses throughout Gardner’s novel, Grendel. Grendel’s struggle with identity is illustrated through the characterization of the Shaper and the Dragon, his isolation from the human society, and the contrast between good and evil, exposing the brutal truth that life is temporary, regardless of purpose.
Between the Shaper and the Dragon, conflicting ideas on the purpose of life are provided, which leads to Grendel’s struggle with identity as he has to choose his take on life. The Dragon confronts Grendel with harsh …show more content…
While stuck in the tree, Grendel comes to the conclusion that he alone exists and life is meaningless, simply following seasons and patterns. Grendel realizes not only the major difference between him and animals, who seemingly have no point or purpose, but finds striking similarities between his thoughts and human thoughts. After their first interaction, Grendel concludes that humans are thinking creatures capable of overcoming patterns, but he cannot physically communicate or fit in with them. The bull, persistently charging at Grendel hanging from the tree, and the goat, who continued to climb Grendel’s rocks after it was injured and bleeding, led Grendel to conclude that nature is mechanical and indifferent. Feeling misunderstood by both humans and animals, Grendel faces an internal struggle as he desires to be understood on the same thinking level as humans, but is clearly born into the life of a monster. Unable to identify with either group forces Grendel to have his own identity. This warfare corners Grendel, showing that the conflict between desire and identity take away the meaning of life, as one way or the other, he is stuck in a life where he is misunderstood and unable to make