Grendel

“Grendel” by John Gardner is a retelling of the ancient epic Beowulf from the perspective of the monster, Grendel. At the outset of the novel, the reader is presented with Grendel stuck in a tree, which is being attacked by a bull. This bull, as Grendel soon realizes is mechanical, attacking over and over tirelessly. Presented with this, Grendel realizes that the “world [is] nothing: a mechanical chaos of casual, brute enmity on which we stupidly impose our hopes and fears.” Later on, when Grendel meets the Dragon, he learns that he is the way by which humans define themselves. At first Grendel exists almost entirely in this capacity because he believes that life is inherently meaningless, he attacks and destroys the humans at will. However, on several occasions, he acts in a manner that places him outside this nihilistic role.

Grendel chooses however to ignore the role society has placed on him as the destroyer and instead defines himself in a manner in which he sees fit. When Grendel battles with Unferth, he is about to kill him, as he customarily does, however he is struck by the idea to not kill him in order that Unferth will never gain the hero status he desires. But by not killing him, Grendel deviates from his usual (and somewhat mechanical) destructive actions. This allows Grendel to gain a bit of grip on his sanity and builds his determination to give his life meaning in a meaningless world.

Grendel further defines human’s role for him when he is about to kill Wealtheow and suddenly realizes that it would be “meaningless, killing her. As meaningless as letting her live. It would be, for me, mere pointless pleasure, an illusion of order for this one frail, foolish, flicker-flash in the long dull fall of eternity.” Ultimately, he leaves her unscathed. This decision places Grendel in complete control of his life as well as how he defines himself. His existence in a world he views as utterly meaningless gains meaning when he acts in a manner that defies his role in the world. So by not entirely succumbing to the destructive role placed upon him, he has defined his existence as well as his essence. With is dying breath he speaks “Poor Grendel's had an accident . . . So may you all.” Grendel’s death solidifies his choice to be who he defined himself as and he wishes that self-defining capacity on all. Grendel serves to show that even if you are dissatisfied with your role in life, it is entirely possible to define yourself as you see fit.