What Is Grendel Mesmerized By The Beauty Of Women

In addition to women being a reminder of Grendel’s curse, Grendel is mesmerized by the beauty of women and he watches beautiful women in awe; however, Grendel believes that the women are distracting him and are tempting to him. Grendel shows his inner conflict from witnessing the beauty of women when saying: “And yet I was teased- tortured by the red of her hair and the set of her chin and the white of her shoulders- teased towards disbelief in the dragon’s truths” (108). Grendel is upset that Wealtheow is so beautiful, her beauty makes him want to be accepted by the people and capable of being loved. Grendel believes that he is destined to be alone and that he is supposed to be the destroyer to maintain balance within the society. The women
make Grendel eager to be accepted and appreciated, therefore, rejecting his position as the destroyer. Grendel asserts blame on the women for being tempting, while he is truly to blame for being tempted. Grendel decides to end his temptation when thinking: “I would kill her and teach them reality. Grendel the truth-teacher, phantasm-tester” (110). Killing Wealtheow reaffirms the belief that women make Grendel feel out of control and Grendel makes the decision to not love women. The decision to kill Wealtheow would permanently end his temptation and distraction that he feels women initiated.