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Post by alexkavery on Aug 8, 2013 21:53:30 GMT
One of the first time Grendel ventures out into the world, he finds himself trapped in a tree surrounded by humans. As much as Grendel tries to communicate with the humans, who are mistaking him for some type of spirit or god, they cannot understand him. The encounter quickly spirals downwards until Grendel finds himself beset by "thinking creatures, pattern makers, the most dangerous things I'd ever met."(27). Essentially, an inability to communicate with our enemies leads to a reaction infused with violence. An unfortunate, natural response of human xenophobia.
Yet later, when Grendel faces off against Unferth for the first time, Unferth is able to understand Grendel's form of speech. While the exact meaning may not always come out clear, there is no doubt that the distance between Grendel and humanity has shrunk. So this brings forth the questions:
Why can Unferth understand Grendel?
Is it Unferth who is unique or Grendel who has changed?
Does Unferth's ability to understand Grendel contribute to the decision to spare Unferth? Why?
And, finally, does this encounter reveal about the nature of heroes (if anything)?
Just respond to whatever you want.
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Post by garygates on Aug 9, 2013 22:43:26 GMT
I would like to add that Unferth is not the only human that understands Grendel. Ork, the priest, has a very long discussion about religion with Grendel when Grendel sits in the center of the ring of gods and pretends to be 'The Destroyer'. This discussion causes me to believe that Unferth is not unique, and that the entire population of humans has the ability to talk to and understand Grendel but they will not due to their characteristics and attitudes.
There is one thing that I believe gives Ork and Unferth the ability to talk to Grendel, one important characteristic that these characters share but is not evident in the rest of Hrothgar's kingdom. The first of these characteristics and the most important is the curiosity that the two share. Upon initially viewing the priests Grendel comments, "The old peasant...whispers crossly: '...Religion is sick.' Which is true. There is no conviction in the old priests' songs; there is only showmanship. No one in the kingdom is convinced that the gods have life in them" (128). Although Grendel's first judgment about the priests and the townspeople is very negative, Ork is able to prove himself an anomaly because he contains a certain amount of curiosity and fascination of the unknown. A similar event happens when Grendel meets Unferth. In Unferth's confrontation of Grendel Unferth asks, "Are you right with your god?" (82). Although this seems to be rhetorical it still shows that Unferth is more curious about Grendel than the other drunken soldiers who recklessly attack Grendel. As Unferth dances around Grendel, Grendel taunts Unferth saying, "Let me tell them I was sent [to Hell] by Sideways-Walker" (83). Unferth finally realizes that Grendel can talk and displays his curiosity: "He frowned, trying to puzzle out my speech. I said it again, louder and slower, and a startled look came over him. Even now he didn't know what I was saying, but it was clear to him, I think, that I was speaking words" (83). Therefore, there is a combination of reasons that Grendel can communicate with these two characters. Both show curiosity in Grendel, which causes Grendel to talk. This curiosity is not shared by the other humans causing only those that possess this attribute to have the ability to understand Grendel.
Grendel, because he develops a connection with Ork and Unferth treats the two in a similar fashion, eventually sparing both humans' lives. In both cases Grendel starts by acting or thinking like he is going to kill his foe. In Unferth's case, Grendel gets low in a wrestler's stance, preparing to battle, before he changes his mind and decides to torment Unferth with mocking dialogue. Grendel also wants to kill Ork in the beginning, as he comments, "I intend to pain the images with the old man's streaming blood" (130) but instead Grendel plays along with Ork, amusing himself by pretending that he is a god. In both cases, most likely because Grendel enjoys his teasing conversations with Ork and Underth, Grendel allows those that can actually understand him to live, tiptoeing away from Ork and carrying Unferth home after Unferth falls asleep.
One final reason that Grendel understands and spares Ork and Unferth is that they are both outcasts. Unferth is despised by much of the kingdom because he killed his brother and Ork is the oldest of the priests and has ideas that make his fellow priests view him as a senile lunatic. Grendel feels the same way that these outcasts feel. He is out of place at home and in the humans' kingdom because he is a wild monster but at the same time has human characteristics, therefore not fitting in anywhere. Grendel may taunt these characters but he feels sympathetic towards them because of the isolated lives that they lead.
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Post by robertxu on Aug 11, 2013 3:29:08 GMT
If you asked Grendel what his relationship with Unferth was, he'd probably dismember you for fun. If you asked Grendel while he was in a mellow/self-reflective mood, say after a few hours of indulging in The Shaper's song, he might let off that he has a little respect for Unferth. Grendel is never visibly irritated by Unferth, in fact he even enjoys his company in a sadistic way. Gardner writes, "He was an idiot. I could crush him like a fly, but I held back" (Gardner 89). Even though it isn't explicitly mentioned, Grendel holds Unferth at a higher level than the rest of the hypocritical, selfish and violent humans, and that's why I think that he ultimately spares him in the end. Furthermore, unlike everyone else who would simply keep trying to kill Grendel, Unferth appeals to Grendel's ethos and pathos. Unferth asks Grendel, "Does nothing have value in your horrible ruin of a brain?" (Gardner 89).
They have a very interesting relationship because Unferth understands on some level that Grendel is capable of making individualistic decisions, while Grendel understands on some level that Unferth is simply doing what he feels is right, and respects him for it. This encounter reveals to the readers and to Grendel that not all humans are selfish, pathetic beings. Unferth not only talks the talk, but he also walks the walk by offering his life in the name of good and heroism.
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