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Post by juliamoreland on Aug 11, 2013 17:36:24 GMT
During the novel, I saw Grendel shift from young and innocent (somewhat) to a creature that enjoys manipulation and killing. Going into the novel I knew it was supposed to be dark, and the first chapters were fine, until then things got twisted. I saw Grendel first change when he said, “I had news for him. If he had sons, they wouldn’t hear his words” (53). From this point on, I felt as if Grendel had changed. He took pleasure in the humans discomfort and planned out the most painful ways to kill them. This feeling escalated all the way until the end of the novel, but my question is when do you think Grendel snapped? Or was his transformation gradual? From looking at other threads I have seen lots of people talking about the dragon, was that the changing point? What characteristics of Grendel did you find surprising as he transformed?
Why did he change/snap?
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Post by shannonfender on Aug 19, 2013 8:48:33 GMT
I think Grendel's "snapping point" was more like a "snapping period". In my mind, the quote you refer to on page 53 marks when Grendel begins his descend to hopelessness, and the end is marked by the discussion with the dragon. On page 53, we see Grendel's childlike naivety begin to disappear when he says, "The Shaper may yet improve men's minds, bring peace to the miserable Danes" (53). However, he quickly refutes this claim by asserting that "they were doomed... and [he] was glad".
While Grendel may seem to have lost all hope in this moment, I would not say that Grendel was immediately disillusioned by the Shaper's promise of a better world. Although we see him begin to transition to this state, part of Grendel wants the Shaper's words to be true, so, in hopes of getting some answers, he visits the dragon.
After the encounter with the dragon, Grendel admits, "something much deeper stayed with me, became my aura. Futility, doom, became a smell in the air" (75). At this point, Grendel officially "snaps", and transforms into a forlorn and contemptuous being. He no longer sees light in the Shaper's words and renders them lies to inspire hope when there truly is nothing to be hopeful for. This period of time (for me) marks the most pivotal moment in Grendel's transformation.
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