Hazel Severino 2A

092508

Alienation

Grendel is a neck-wringing monster who terrorizes Hrothgar’s kingdom in

Denmark. Although depicted as a fiend in the epic Beowulf, John Gardner’s Grendel

reveals a complex individual forced into aggressive behavior. God, society, and nature,

due to fear and his lineage, spurn Grendel.

As Grendel attempts to interact with nature, it in turn rejects him. As he strolls

down the forest, he encounters a “doe in the clearing [that] goes stiff at [his] horridness,

then remembers her legs and is gone” (Grendel 7). Grendel’s appearance instills a fear

that triggers the instinct of fight-or-flight in the doe, which represents an innocent nature.

The doe’s reaction reveals that fear creates a barrier between others and Grendel that

prevents their interaction. As he approaches his demise, “animals gather around [him],

enemies of old, to watch [him] die” (Grendel 173). Too late for friendship, his enemies

come near as if his impending death is an assurance of their safety. The animals’ instincts

paired with Grendel’s intimidating presence stifle any relations between them. Fear is the

potent emotion that keeps Grendel at arms length from nature.

Society refuses to accept Grendel in spite of his attempts to appeal to them.

Humans attack Grendel after having his foot trapped in a tree. Following his pleads to the

merciless men, his mother comes to his aide but “before she [is] within a mile of [them],

the creatures [leap] to their horses and [gallop] away” (Grendel 27). When Grendel’s

mother interferes and confirms the humans’ assumption that involvement with him is

unsafe, she inhibits any chance that Grendel may have to win them over in the future. His
first impression on the humans is the foundation that their discrimination grows upon.

When Grendel barges into Hrothgar’s mead hall howling, “‘Mercy! Please!’ The harper

[breaks] off, the people [scream]” (Grendel 52). Society’s prejudice clouds their

perspective, translating Grendel’s attempt at a truce to an attack. His grotesque

appearance suggests to them that his behavior is truly monstrous and they reject him.

Prejudice ensures that society will never acknowledge him as an equal.

God condemns Grendel as a spawn of the devil. Grendel feels conflicted when he

overhears that he is “the darkside… The terrible race God cursed” (Grendel 57). This idea

forces Grendel to question why God favors one child over another, encouraging feelings

of jealousy and resentment. Motivated by these emotions, he alienates himself from both

God and humans. Denmark was a place of peace “...till one began to fashion evils, that

field of hell. Grendel this monster grim was called... Of Cain awoke all that woeful

breed...” (Beowulf Line 102-112). Through no fault of his own, Grendel is born into

Cain’s unforgivable sin leaving him the mark of Cain. This mark is a symbol of God’s

vengeance. Understanding that he and God can never be on the same side, he takes his

stance in hell’s pit and deflects all things holy.

The lack of sympathy provided by the alienation of his surroundings pressures

Grendel to terrorize others. Refusing to sulk in loneliness, he realizes that attacking

others is the only way that he is permitted to remain with them. Eventually, society’s

disgust prevails and Grendel is beheaded.