Nurture In Grendel

There has long been debate concerning whether nature or nurture matters more in determining the traits an individual acquires. This theme has been exhibited in many pieces of literature and the novel, Grendel, is no exception. The titular character, Grendel, who can be seen as a mentally unstable monster, possesses traits which suggest that nurture played a vital role to play throughout his psychological development and evolution. This is displayed through his rejection of humanity and his childhood isolation/loneliness, which played a formative role in shaping Grendel’s personality. Grendel, as the narrator, shares his stories of isolation/ loneliness and rejection with the reader, thus one can conclude that nurture had the upper-hand in shaping Grendel as an individual.

From the very first meeting, the Danes, due to their “blind prejudice,” rejected Grendel, labeled him a monster, and acted out of violence towards him. An example of this would be found in the lines “ The king snatched an ax from the man beside him and, without warning he hurled it at me”(John Gardner,27). This first meeting with man is the turning point for Grendel and he gives into his hatred for humans. Another example of how rejection shaped Grendel is when he says “ The world resists me and I resist the world”(Gardner 28). When Grendel says this he is fully immersing himself into his “monster” role, he realises his hatred for the world and thus turns to