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Analysis of the Character Grendel in Beowulf

Introduction

Grendel is described as a man-eating monster that descended from the biblical Cain. He

is portrayed as a nightwalker that bears the anger of God and lacking in joy due to the curse he

received from murdering his brother Abel. While his psychology is not explored in detail

throughout the novel, there is a sense that he attacks ordinary people due to his enforced isolation

which has made him develop hatred towards those he perceives as enjoying companionship and a

sense of belonging. Therefore, in analyzing the poem, ‘Grendel’ comes across as a character that

of great intelligence, given how he is able to survive for so long and only harms those who do

wrong to him and his family (Zemeckis, n.p). This paper argues that although monstrous,

Grendel is not brutish, but is a character that is capable of learning, communicating, thinking,

and feeling emotions.

Throughout the book, Grendel is an unhappy soul because he sees himself as useless and

unable to accept his role as a destroyer. He does not have any friends, no one accepts him except

his mother, this creates a huge problem in his life, and this is what contributes to how he lives

with a man. Therefore in analyzing the book, one of the predominant themes is how Grendel is

in constant need of a community. He desperately tries to fit in a community, but always seems

like an outsider, because of the way he was portrayed before within the human community. It
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seems like Grendel has a strong attraction to the human community because he does not want to

be alone because he at times feels “alone and ugly” (Gardner 17). However, because the human

community is unable to accept him, he has always to live admiring human beings enjoy

companionship and all the benefits of a community from a distance because no matter how hard

he tries he will never fit in. This drives him to become jealous of others. Throughout the novel,

Grendel sees many aspects of human beings including their flaws and strengths. From a societal

perspective, it seems the author uses the character of Grendel to address some of the drawbacks

of the human community (Zemeckis, n.p). For instance, although Beowulf’s strength enabled

him to dominate the battle with Grendel, it also acted as one of his greatest flaws and in fact is

not all that good. He strong, brave, an adventurer and a hero throughout the novel but in the end,

he reveals his true nature and the reader soon realizes just how much of a liar he is.

As a leader and the main protector of his people, it is evident that Beowulf makes some

of the biggest mistakes when he lies on several occasions thereby putting his people in great

danger. For example, although is the strongest in their community and is therefore sent to kill the

sea witch, he, in turn, decides to lay with her after realizing that he is no much for her. However,

his biggest misstep comes when he decides to lie about having killed her knowing very well that

he did not, thereby putting the community in danger. He also claims to have killed seven sea

monsters, but we can hear Wiglaf in the background saying, “last time it was three” (Zemeckis et

al. Beowulf). This statement alone shows how much Beowulf has issues with lying. All these

show that although Beowulf is portrayed as a hero, he is given more credit that he deserves

(Fajardo-Acosta 14).

Grendel on the other hand, although considered as a monster, is sadly misunderstood.

(Crouse 31) notes that he constantly frets over his meaningless life and becomes quite discontent
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and irritated. As the movie progresses, we come to realize that he is, in fact, the son of king

Hrothgar, a child who was conceived after the king slept with the sea witch. Due to his loneliness

and the feeling of being neglected, Grendel is often set off when he hears human beings reveling,

singing and having fun in the mead hall. All this shows that he is indeed just a normal being,

only that he was brought up on the sidelines, a factor that has contributed to his hatred and

monstrosity against humans (Gardner 53). Although he just wants to live like the others, every

time Grendel goes to the mead hall to be part of the fun he is always greeted with spears and

screams of terror, and this is why he often unleashed his monstrosity on humans. The feeling of

having to constantly endure loneliness, abandonment, and rejection from the only people you

know can, therefore, be concluded as the main reason why Grendel often so furious and angry at

people. He attacks because of being terrified.

He did not ask to be born in such a cruel life. It was his father King Hrothgar who made a

pact with the devil and lay with the sea witch. It was a mistake that the King forgot to clean up

and it is clear that Grendel’s life would upset anyone who finds themselves in such a situation. In

the end, anyone would simply feel cruel and question why they would have to be in such a

position. Therefore, although born a monster, Grendel is naturally a human being and has some

humanity and feelings too because his parents except the mother, all look and act like humans.

This can be seen at the beginning of the story when he attacks the mead hall and when Hrothgar

yells at him saying that “fight me” (Zemeckis et al. Beowulf); Grendel simply turns around and

walks away. After returning to his hiding, Grendel is rebuked by his mother, an act that makes to

him to curl into a ball because he sees his actions as appalling. Moreover, when fighting with

Beowulf and his arm is ripped off, he quickly returns to his cave and is actually crying in pain.
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This shows that like with all monsters portrayed in literature, not all of them are scary as they

seem and that some like Grendel do share human feelings such as fear and pain.

This is also witnessed in his relations with his mother. It is evident from the story that

Grendel is indeed a “mama’s boy.” This can be seen in the way he cries out calling his mother’s

name while lying in the water. It shows how close a mother and his little boy can be no matter

how ugly his character might be. Therefore, in many ways, Grendel is more of a boy than the

monster he is shown to be. He is a mixture of a man and a beast, but after learning about his

background, it can be concluded that his monstrous nature is due to his upbringing and the kind

of life he has had to endure as a child up to where he is now. He is simply misunderstood in his

efforts to try and live like his fellow human beings. His mother cares for him just like any mother

would do, but Grendel still fails to understand why he cannot be part of the community as the

rest. Christian (72) notes that this is what drives him to develop hatred against human beings, the

inability to enjoy companionship and a sense of belonging.

Conclusion

Beowulf’s strength in the battle against Grendel allowed him to dominate, but he is also a

liar who cannot be trusted. Grendel on the other hand, although a monster, is merely

misunderstood by the community and is not bad as he is portrayed in the film. A closer look

reveals that just like other people, Grendel shares feelings of pain and fear, and is able to forgive

and take care of those close to him just like another human being. However, due to the kind of

life, he forced to live, he often finds himself unleashing his anger against humans when they fail

to accept him as one of them despite all his efforts. As such, Grendel, although monstrous, is not

that bad but is just misunderstood due to the way he is portrayed.

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Works Cited

Christian, Ed, and John Gardner."An Interview with John Gardner." Prairie Schooner 54.4
(1980): 70-93.
Crouse, Dawn E. A Jungian analysis of “Beowulf”. California State University, Dominguez
Hills, 2007.
Fajardo-Acosta, Fidel. The Condemnation of Heroism in the Tragedy of Beowulf: A Study in the
Characterization of the Epic. Vol. 2. Edwin Mellen Pr, 1989.
Gardner, John C. Grendel. Hachette UK, 2015. Print.
Zemeckis, Robert et al., .Beowulf.
Zemeckis, Robert. Beowulf. Netflix. 2007. Web.