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Post by sheridanf on Aug 14, 2013 19:34:02 GMT
At the end of the Grendel's conversation with the dragon, he imparts this bit of dragon wisdom: "My advice to you...is to seek out gold and sit on it" (pg. 74). He isn't literally ordering Grendel to bide his time sitting on some shiny metal. After Grendel leaves the dragon, he feels a sort of emptiness, since he starts doubting the existence of everything except for himself, and he feels very alone in the world. But when he begins raiding towns and killing men, he feels somewhat fulfilled- at least occupied. Grendel's acts of destruction is a metaphorical pile of gold. All of us need some sort of gold mound to sit on- we all need a purpose to continue living. But some piles of gold appear better than others, and some can lead to one's end, such as in Grendel's case. So after reading Grendel and experiencing your own and others' piles of gold, do you think it's best to "seek out gold and sit on it?" Also, do you think there was any other metaphorical gold that Grendel could have claimed for his own, or was he always doomed to unhappiness? |
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Post by clairem on Aug 14, 2013 23:25:58 GMT
This is a rather interesting concept to follow throughout the pages of Grendel as each individual’s ‘piles of gold’ are different and they reveal what motivates each character in the novel. There are two main characters in the novel that did not pursue or ever acquire their piles of gold and it ultimately led them to despair.
The first of the two was the Shaper who started out a hero to the Hrothgar meadhalls and Grendel as he sang of the memories and battles that the Hrothgar men had endured. Towards the end of the book Grendel reveals the secret love that the Shaper had developed for Wealtheow, “There was no mistaking that he [Shaper] sang for her. Nothing came of it. She would leave the hall on her husband’s arm: the Shaper would bow politely as she passed” (Gardner 126). For the Shaper, Wealtheow was his pile of gold and he never gained possession of her, he never sat on his pile of gold, and ultimately he died not long after Wealtheow became a part of Hrothgar’s life because the Shaper realized he would never acquire her. The realization that he would never sit on his pile of gold could arguably be what led the Shaper to his death.
Grendel’s mother also showed despair as she watched her pile of gold slip away from her. As a mother she possessed many maternal instincts and Grendel often discussed how she would sacrifice herself for him and also compared many sweet things to his mother’s sweet milk. Unfortunately, as Grendel grows older he shifts, as many animals do, to being a more independent creature. For his mother this means she is slowing losing her son, her pile of gold, “she whimpered, scratched at the nipple I had not sucked in years” (Grendel 47). Early in the novel Grendel’s mother shows signs of missing him and as the story progresses she falls to insanity as he continually leaves her, “My mother no longer shows any sign of sanity… Each time I come in she gets between me and the door, as if to lock me up with her forever” (Grendel 127). Grendel’s mother becomes desperate for her pile of gold and she reveals to the reader the true validity of the dragon’s words, that it truly is important to pursue and hold onto one’s pile of gold, whatever it may be.
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Post by carolinedorman on Aug 14, 2013 23:51:28 GMT
Although Grendel’s perspective and voice is altered after the dragon’s advice to ‘sit on a pile of gold’, I do not think he actually follows the dragon’s advice. The dragon seems to have given up on interacting with the outside world and humanity. He understands the hopelessness of trying to create significance when time will forever outlast anything one tries to create. He has no desire to make an impact on the world because he believes it will simply be a tiny blip, inconsequential to the ongoing world. The act of Grendel pillaging Hrothgar’s halls and terrorizing the people is Grendel’s attempt to belong somewhere. Grendel ultimately has the same need for companionship that humans have. He is not simply sitting on a pile of gold and watching as time predictably moves on without him. Therefore I do not agree that Grendel has a pile of gold to sit on. To me, the pile of gold represents defeat. The dragon has a greater perspective of the world around him, which influences him to covet a meaningless commodity and exist without hope. Grendel never latches on to an inanimate object and become a recluse; he does not have the ability to foresee the future and therefore can still feel wonder and hope.
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Post by adamgrace on Aug 20, 2013 1:44:08 GMT
I think I'm leaning more towards Caroline's perspective on this. The dragon is meant to signify an otherworldly entity or an "all-knowing-enigma" type of creature. Grendel is meant to portray humanity. Since the dragon can see into the future as if it has already happened, he feels as though he's already experienced it. The dragon has lost all hope, and therefore all humanity. Grendel can only see in the present and past which makes him determined to push on into the future. After Grendel learns about the dragon's existence he seems to mature and fully understand his purpose which deters him from finding his own "pile of gold".
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