Grendel: A Parallel Between Good And Evil

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Represented as an evil monster whose sole purpose is to kill, Grendel seems to epitomize the very terror that rules our world today. Yet, throughout the story Grendel exhibits human characteristics and experiences, providing the reader with a parallel between themselves and the "monster", and ultimately giving Grendel a human aspect that simultaneously conveys and criticizes human nature. After reading Grendel by John Gardner, I empathize with Grendel and view him as merely misunderstood, revealing that I am not quick to jump to conclusions, and do not view evil as an inherent value, but as a cultivated result of societal pressure. Throughout the novel, Grendel searches for his purpose and believes that the world is pointless, revealing his …show more content…

The humans refused to accept him, his mother basically ignored him, and he lacked any meaningful conversations. By the end of the story, my view of Grendel had not changed; I still see him as a misunderstood character who makes mistakes and deserves empathy and pity. My view of Grendel shows that I do not label anything as entirely evil, but rather see acts of evil as a result of our societal values. People view Grendel as a horrific beast who does not consider the right thing to do, but I believe that Grendel just does what he was taught. He kills off of necessity, and treats others the way that his more taught him. I understand his nihilism, and share many of his thoughts, as Grendel and I both live off of our own moral values and reject religion. Perhaps it is our similarities that cause me to hold so much empathy for Grendel, but my empathy also reveals my nature. I do not accept the single side of a person, but consider the "gray area" and how their community changes them. Grendel lacks a strong community, and lives in a society where life is constantly cycling. I believe that Grendel became evil due to his loose societal values, and that he is a great example of the truth that nothing can be entirely evil, and most evil is just a misunderstood attempt to

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