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Post by Anna M. on Jul 4, 2013 6:39:08 GMT
So far, (first half of the novel) Grendel clearly wants to be as close to the humans as possible. He spies on the meadhall a lot. When he first approaches the meadhall Grendel cries out emotionally, "Mercy! Peace!" (51). Grendel appears to want to end hostilities with the humans and maybe even start a friendly relationship. The reaction of the humans is to violently attack him until he runs away. At this point in the book I felt that a major turning point occurred. Grendel officially became an outcast, his peacable action was flat out rejected. On page 55, after the incident when he is attacked in the mead hall, Grendel calls himself an outcast.
Another little detail (maybe not important): Before he is attacked Grendel picked up a snake willingly and confidently, and when he released it it slithered away quickly (48). After he was attacked, Grendel sees a snake and he "snapped back in terror" (54).
When Grendel realizes he will always be an outcast to humans, do you believe a significant change occured? If so, how do you think this official act of "outcasting" affects his actions later in the book. Or maybe you can just share your thoughts on the theme of being an outcast from human society.
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Post by yongkim on Jul 12, 2013 21:58:22 GMT
I do believe a significant change occurs when Grendel understands that he and the humans will never cooperate. In fact, the Shaper is the one who is able to communicate to Grendel that he will forever be an outcast. As Grendel throws the dead body across his shoulder, he explains, "Then the harp began to play. The crowd grew still... He told of an ancient feud between two brothers which split all the world between darkness and light. And I, Grendel, was the dark side, he said in effect. The terrible race God cursed. I believed him" (51). The Shaper makes a biblical allusion to the story of Cain and Abel, in which Cain kills his brother, Abel, out of jealousy. As a result, God forces Cain to become a hopeless wanderer on earth (an outcast). The Shaper's song is significant because Grendel realizes he is destined to be an outcast as a descendant of Cain. From that point on, Grendel looks down upon the humans and has no intentions on befriending Hrothgar and his people. I think this official act of outcasting will only further justify his killings and raids on Hart. Is it possible Grendel could have had a better relationship with the humans if his first impression was different? Remember: Several men attacked young Grendel when he had his foot stuck in a crack between two tree trunks in Chapter 2.
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Post by billfeng on Jul 12, 2013 23:02:08 GMT
I felt that if the situation had changed, in the end, Grendel would've still been predestined as the archenemy of mankind. In my interpretation, Grendel is cursed to be an outcast by fate, not by his or any human action. On the other hand, Grendel's realization of this fate is another story. In my opinion, the change in Grendel's thought process occurs gradually over the course of the book. Although, I think Grendel was succumbing to the Shaper's antagonistic image by the instance brought up by yongkim, I don't think that moment is when the significant change occurs. In Chapter 5, the dragon answers Grendel's question of "why do I exist" during their encounter: The dragon implies that Grendel's fate is linked with that of mankind's. Human progress is driving by his antagonist image. I point towards the beginning of Chapter 6, as the moment when Grendel finally accepts his fate. After Grendel finds out that the Dragon places a charm of invulnerability on his body, Grendel decides to conduct his first raid. As he bursts through the doors of the meadhall, Grendel feels a sense of euphoria: At this moment, Grendel accepts the Shaper's image of himself and begins the twelve-year war with Hrothgar. This is the point where I see Grendel making the significant change that you guys percieve. |
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