John Gardner's Grendel: Good Or Evil?

So, John Gardner’s novel "Grendel" is pretty interesting in how it shows us a different side of Grendel, the monster from "Beowulf." Instead of just being this evil beast, Grendel is kind of complex and has a lot going on. He's got questions about life, like what's right or wrong, and even about why he exists at all. This essay's gonna dig into whether Grendel is really good or evil.

Existential Struggles

One big theme in "Grendel" is existentialism, which basically means life might not have any real meaning. Grendel is always searching for some purpose in a world that doesn’t really seem to care he’s there. He feels lonely and cut off from everyone else and can't figure out where he belongs. This adds a layer to his character that's more than just being a monster who does bad stuff.

A Mix of Actions

Throughout the story, we see Grendel do both bad and good things. Sure, he kills people—can't deny that—but he also shows some kindness here and there. Like when he connects with a boy named Red Horse, and he's genuinely upset when Red Horse dies. It’s these moments that make you wonder if Grendel's all bad or not.

Humans and Monsters

Grendel’s relationship with humans is kinda complicated too. At first, he’s just this terrifying creature attacking Hrothgar’s people. But as things go on, it seems like he's acting out 'cause he's frustrated and feels left out—not because he's purely evil. He wants to connect but can’t find anyone among the humans who don’t hate him.

The Dragon's Influence

There's also this part where Grendel meets a dragon who sort of becomes his mentor. The dragon talks about how nothing really matters (pretty deep stuff), which makes Grendel question everything he thought before. The dragon pushes him towards destruction and chaos, making things even fuzzier when it comes to labeling Grendel as good or evil.

Facing Mortality

Towards the end of the book, Grendel has to face the fact that he's going to die one day—big reality check! This forces him to think hard about his choices and what his life means. When he dies, it's portrayed as sad and touching, showing just how layered his character really is.

A Tragic Figure

All in all, Gardner gives us a version of Grendel that's way more nuanced than just an evil monster stereotype. He's capable of terrible deeds but also compassion and deep thoughts about existence. His ties with humans and experiences with the dragon mix things up further when considering whether he's truly evil or not.

References

• Gardner, J. (1971). Grendel. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
• Niles, J.D., & Bjork, R.E., eds. (1997). A Beowulf Handbook. University of Nebraska Press.
• Tolkien, J.R.R., & Drout M.D.C., eds. (2004). Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary. HarperCollins Publishers.
• Bloom, H., ed. (1987). Modern Critical Interpretations: Beowulf. Chelsea House Publishers.
• Cohen, J.J., ed. (1996). The Postmodern Beowulf: A Critical Casebook. West Virginia University Press.