John Gardner's Grendel As A Romantic Hero

In the epic poem Beowulf, the monster Grendel is depicted as a villainous beast with an unquenchable thirst for human flesh and blood. Grendel, written by John Gardner, though, offers a more nuanced depiction of the beast by describing the events in Beowulf through Grendel's narration. Throughout the story, Grendel adopts various romantic characteristics and beliefs including isolation, individualism, and mysticism. These romantic characteristics, though, foster Grendel's murderous intentions and in turn gives him an anti-hero persona. Nearing the end of the novel, his romantic antihero trends transforms his life into a never ending limbo. His only salvation comes in the form of death. Grendel's' inevitable demise represents inescapable fate.

Individualism and a person's ability to choose their own actions also play an important part. In Gardner's novel, Grendel acts on his own whim and does not follow the advice that others give him. For example, nearing the end of the novel, Grendel's mother attempts to keep him inside their underground home by getting, "between [them as if to lock them] up ... forever"(145). Grendel, though, ignores his mother's advances and continues to raid Hrothgar. His eventual decision to wage war on Herot was also completely individualistic. Grendel's individualism, though, also fosters is murderous capabilities and status as antihero. Although it is true that Grendel is completely self sufficient, Grendel's individualism makes him commit atrocious acts like the sadistic murder of innocent women, children, men, and various animal's. Individualism helps foster Grendel's ascension towards moral darkness. Without anyone to stop him, Grendel becomes a violent beast who chooses to kill humans simply out of enjoyment and

In this novel, Magic, such as charms or spells, are mentioned throughout. The most obvious case of magic, though, is the dragon's spell on Grendel and Hrothgar. The Dragon gives Grendel invincibility to Hrothgar's men's weapons. Hrothgar, on the other hand, is given invulnerability to Grendel. While, magic helps reinforce Grendel's romantic image, it also, though, is what makes Grendel become an antihero. Prior to the spell, Grendel did not intentionally go out and attack human beings. He neither had the intentions or the ability to do so. With the spell, that changes for it allows him to maim and kill as many humans as he wants without