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Post by yongkim on Aug 27, 2013 8:13:37 GMT
Thomas Hobbes, an English philosopher, believed that primitive human life was "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." He also felt that the natural state of man was beast-like. In other words, he stood behind the fact that people were born evil.
On the contrary, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, an Enlightenment philosopher, believed humans to be naturally good. In contrast to Thomas Hobbes' view on human nature, Rousseau thought civilization turned man into a "beast".
I understand Grendel is not human; however, he does display numerous human qualities. Does Grendel adhere more to Hobbes' view or Rousseau's view on human nature? Please take into account Grendel's behavior, actions, and thoughts throughout the whole book.
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Post by sammywong on Aug 29, 2013 6:33:46 GMT
I would say Grendel adheres to more the Rousseau viewpoint of human nature but is not the perfect example because Rousseau makes the assumption that no bad equates to good. The lack of evil, in my opinion, does not exactly translate to good but a blurred line between what is evil and good. So, Grendel starts off on a clean slate and civilization molds him into the monster he becomes. (Which is more along the lines of what Rousseau proclaims, according to your explanations of the two philosophers.) In the beginning of his life, Grendel neither helps others nor destroys them. He simply lives and attempts to discover new things around his cave and the world around it. This is the reason why Rousseau's theory does not exactly fit with Grendel's story.
Grendel, behavioral wise, is not a monster during the earliest stages of his life. Only until after he is attacked by the humans for the very first time does he consider Hrothgar as more of an enemy and less of only a source of food for survival. Grendel's mother, charging the humans in a fit of rage, also rescues Grendel, providing a wonderful role model for the young monsterling. Grendel's encounter with the dragon also proves to be a pulling force into submission for Grendel. Confronting the dragon about morals, Grendel proclaims, "Why is it fiddlesticks if I stop giving people heart attacks over nothing! Why shouldn't one change one's way, improve one's character?" (72.) The dragon, an external force in Grendel's life, tries and discourages Grendel from refraining on unnecessary pillages. Grendel, making conscious recognition that what he is presently doing is wrong, is influenced to not change his ways. Though Grendel is not necessarily good at first, civilization and external forces do steer him into becoming the monster he proves to be by the end of the novel.
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