Grendel Character Analysis Essay

In the novel Grendel, by John Gardner, portrays Grendel's characteristics altering as he meets new characters; throughout his journey to mankind. Mankind teaches him vast new knowledge he's never understood. His nihilistic and solipsism is formed through the characters in the novel; envy and anger are also shown. He plays big roles in terrifying the Danes and somewhat of the Geats; they mold him into the monster they fear the most. The characters, shaper, man, and the dragon shape Grendel into the monster he so desires. They teach him of lies, false glory, brutality, never ending violence, and wisdom. To begin with, the shaper influences Grendel through his songs of past heroism and a pure legacy. He demonstrates it through the power of changing one's perception of themselves and the world in which they live in. For instance, Grendel acknowledges the shaper’s power as he states “He told of an ancient feud between two brothers which split all the world between darkness and light. And I Grendel was the dark side, he said in effect”(Gardner 51). He also includes “the shaper has people to talk to”(Gardner 53) as he insist for company. To continue, Grendel takes into consideration as he, himself was convinced that he is pure darkness and forever trapped alone in his despair; thus meaning is “playful acts” on mankind. In
For example, he includes “It didn’t matter what they did to each other. It was slightly ominous because of its strangeness-no wolf was so vicious to other wolves”(Gardner 32). This is when Grendel began to see mankind's brutal characteristics as they slaughtered each other. In his death bed Grendel continues to progress before he dies. He curses everyone, including animals by stating “So may you all”(Gardner 174) suffer from a tragic ending as he has. He turns into the ultimate nihilistic once he damns everyone; but it’s ironic due to the fact his victims have felt just as he