Post by chrisb on Sept 4, 2013 3:32:05 GMT
Throughout our discussion on Gardner’s Grendel, the most common question pertains to the erratic nature of Grendel’s behavior. Why does Grendel choose to kill some and spare others? Why does Grendel choose to engage in violence at some times and seek peace during others? One of the few clues that Gardner gives the readers lies in the mechanics of nature.
Many passages support the significance of this motif. In the first chapter of the novel, Grendel explains, “The first grim stirrings of springtime come…I feel my anger coming back, building up like invisible fire, and at last, when my soul can no longer resist, I go up – as mechanical as anything else - … for blood” (9). Oppositely, seasonal changes enforce negative feedback later in Grendel, as Grendel complains, “A bad winter. I couldn’t lay a hand on them, prevented as if by a charm. I huddled in my cave, grinding my teeth, beating my forehead with my fists and cursing nature” (101). The association between a “bad winter” and Grendel’s inability to attack the humans implies a relation between Grendel’s behavior and the season, and the relation becomes more apparent as Grendel is “cursing nature” for the predicament.
On the other hand, Gardner effectively supports the autonomy of Grendel while still maintaining the significance of mechanical processes in nature. In the first chapter, Gardner depicts the balancing forces of Grendel’s autonomy, as Grendel explains, “Locked in the deadly progression of moon and stars. I shake my head, muttering darkly on shaded paths, holding conversation with the only friend and comfort this world affords, my shadow” (8). At first glance, the narration highlights the overpowering effect of nature’s mechanics, referring to astronomical movements as “deadly.” Gardner, however, inserts a subtle contradiction in order to portray a different side of Grendel’s autonomy. Logically, it is impossible for Grendel to hold a conversation with his “shadow” if he is walking down “shaded paths.” That said, Gardner makes a strong argument for Grendel’s autonomy, as he is able to consult his shadow regardless of the presence of sunshine.
Here are some questions!
Which factors most influence Grendel’s behavior? Is he a product of his (mechanical) environment, or is his own autonomy the ultimate factor behind his actions?
Many passages support the significance of this motif. In the first chapter of the novel, Grendel explains, “The first grim stirrings of springtime come…I feel my anger coming back, building up like invisible fire, and at last, when my soul can no longer resist, I go up – as mechanical as anything else - … for blood” (9). Oppositely, seasonal changes enforce negative feedback later in Grendel, as Grendel complains, “A bad winter. I couldn’t lay a hand on them, prevented as if by a charm. I huddled in my cave, grinding my teeth, beating my forehead with my fists and cursing nature” (101). The association between a “bad winter” and Grendel’s inability to attack the humans implies a relation between Grendel’s behavior and the season, and the relation becomes more apparent as Grendel is “cursing nature” for the predicament.
On the other hand, Gardner effectively supports the autonomy of Grendel while still maintaining the significance of mechanical processes in nature. In the first chapter, Gardner depicts the balancing forces of Grendel’s autonomy, as Grendel explains, “Locked in the deadly progression of moon and stars. I shake my head, muttering darkly on shaded paths, holding conversation with the only friend and comfort this world affords, my shadow” (8). At first glance, the narration highlights the overpowering effect of nature’s mechanics, referring to astronomical movements as “deadly.” Gardner, however, inserts a subtle contradiction in order to portray a different side of Grendel’s autonomy. Logically, it is impossible for Grendel to hold a conversation with his “shadow” if he is walking down “shaded paths.” That said, Gardner makes a strong argument for Grendel’s autonomy, as he is able to consult his shadow regardless of the presence of sunshine.
Here are some questions!
Which factors most influence Grendel’s behavior? Is he a product of his (mechanical) environment, or is his own autonomy the ultimate factor behind his actions?
