Grendel

(Frank Wu)

In the poem “Beowulf”, Grendel is featured as the primary antagonist to Beowulf himself. Grendel is shown early in the poem to have anger and resentment toward humankind. When Grendel is exposed to the happiness of man he is thrown into a fit of rage. His monstrosity is fully realized when he acts on this anger and goes into the mead-hall, Heorot, destroying everything and everyone in his way. Grendel is described as unappealing to look at and monstrous in nature. In the most lauded translation of “Beowulf”, Grendel is shown to be humanesque but still inhumane “... in the shape of a man, moves beyond the pale bigger than any man, an unnatural birth”. (Heaney) What makes Grendel such a fascinating character is perhaps the possible motive for his anger and behavior against mankind. It’s this anger that makes Grendel more human than even he can know. Grendel is conceivably jealous, bitter, and cross toward mankind. In the view of God’s people Grendel might feel like a pariah. He is conceivably isolated for eternity with his own mother. Grendel would never have loved or been blessed with the emotion of happiness. This possible sadness is extremely human.