Does life have any value? Imagine living inside a world attempting to discover the significance of life. The journey to self-discovery can lead to a positive change in one’s life in regards to a finer understanding of one’s self and the world around them. The following protagonists’ from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby and John Gardner’s Grendel infiltrate into a new society, frequently feeling isolated. Through various events, both protagonists, Jay Gatsby and Grendel are immature and unable to cope with the obsession of lust. Moreover, in a specific occasion, both protagonists are challenged through their motivations in life, eventually experiencing self-realization. The physical and mental journey experienced by the protagonist does
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To begin with, John Gardner’s Grendel and F.Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby demonstrates that each protagonist is unable to adapt to the obsession of love. The protagonist Grendel demonstrates that even though he is thought to be an outsider from the human populace, he experiences unfamiliar feelings of love. Since, the world ignores him; he is left searching for a companionship among the citizens of Hrothgar 's kingdom. For instance, as Grendel’s feud with the Danes continues, other rulers are ascending around Hrothgar’s kingdom. As a peace offering, the neighboring territory provides a young female by the name of Wealtheow to Hrothgar. Grendel’s first impression of Wealtheow showed his affection by not attacking the castle for a period of time. However, Grendel’s emotional attachment overcomes him, resulting in an almost catastrophic death of the female peacekeeper, Wealtheow, in which he says “I would begin by holding her over the fire and cooking the ugly hole between her legs.” (Gardner, 109) This shows that Grendel is isolated from the humans, building up his …show more content…
As Grendel is trying to understand his purpose in life, he finds himself in the presence of a dragon that lives in a hollow cave loaded with gold and gems. Throughout the story, Grendel puts up with the Dragon’s attitude, but what the Dragon declares is beneficial to him, although Grendel does not understand. Since the dragon, experiences the universe 's most profound issues of past, present, and future he also advises his place in the world, however, he does not seem to understand. For instance, when the Dragon says, “My advice to you, my violent friend, is to seek out gold and sit on it.” (Gardner, 74) This portrays that the Dragon assures his place and purpose in the world. In other words, the Dragon wants him to embrace the specific image the humans created of him. Due to this, the Dragon insists that Grendel does have a specific purpose in life, in which he calls him “man’s brute existent,” and with the guidance of the dragon he becomes opened to the fact that perhaps he was meant to kill humans. In spite of the fact that he questions himself, he gradually becomes a bloodthirsty brute that devours humans. Although, Grendel had power over the humans, he realized that his purpose was to in fact kill the humans; however, it did not make a difference as he acknowledged that he is still alone. Similarly, in The Great Gatsby,
To begin with, John Gardner’s Grendel and F.Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby demonstrates that each protagonist is unable to adapt to the obsession of love. The protagonist Grendel demonstrates that even though he is thought to be an outsider from the human populace, he experiences unfamiliar feelings of love. Since, the world ignores him; he is left searching for a companionship among the citizens of Hrothgar 's kingdom. For instance, as Grendel’s feud with the Danes continues, other rulers are ascending around Hrothgar’s kingdom. As a peace offering, the neighboring territory provides a young female by the name of Wealtheow to Hrothgar. Grendel’s first impression of Wealtheow showed his affection by not attacking the castle for a period of time. However, Grendel’s emotional attachment overcomes him, resulting in an almost catastrophic death of the female peacekeeper, Wealtheow, in which he says “I would begin by holding her over the fire and cooking the ugly hole between her legs.” (Gardner, 109) This shows that Grendel is isolated from the humans, building up his …show more content…
As Grendel is trying to understand his purpose in life, he finds himself in the presence of a dragon that lives in a hollow cave loaded with gold and gems. Throughout the story, Grendel puts up with the Dragon’s attitude, but what the Dragon declares is beneficial to him, although Grendel does not understand. Since the dragon, experiences the universe 's most profound issues of past, present, and future he also advises his place in the world, however, he does not seem to understand. For instance, when the Dragon says, “My advice to you, my violent friend, is to seek out gold and sit on it.” (Gardner, 74) This portrays that the Dragon assures his place and purpose in the world. In other words, the Dragon wants him to embrace the specific image the humans created of him. Due to this, the Dragon insists that Grendel does have a specific purpose in life, in which he calls him “man’s brute existent,” and with the guidance of the dragon he becomes opened to the fact that perhaps he was meant to kill humans. In spite of the fact that he questions himself, he gradually becomes a bloodthirsty brute that devours humans. Although, Grendel had power over the humans, he realized that his purpose was to in fact kill the humans; however, it did not make a difference as he acknowledged that he is still alone. Similarly, in The Great Gatsby,