Grendel and the Importance of Human Values :: Grendel Essays

Grendel and the Importance of Human Values In Grendel, by John Gardner, there is considerable disquietude, but there are also moments of pleasure as well. The cause of these contrasting feelings is near often Grendel himself. As he changes from a purposeful and almost kind creature to a very heavy-handed monster that scorns hope, we find ourselves feeling both pleased and upset at different times. In this element, though, lies a much greater purpose than alone good literature - it helps the reader understand the importance of human values. amusement in the book seeds mainly in realizing how much Grendel acts like a human, and how much much rational he is than one would expect for a cruel monster. After seeing the deer in the beginning of the novel, Grendel points extinct why he kills cows instead of deer they have much meat and are easier to catch. Although its not necessarily a pleasant thought, its approximately comforting to know that Grendel appears to kill fo r the practical benefits (food) and not simply for the saki of killing. This is no worse than we might do. He seems especi every(prenominal)y human-like when he listens to the Shapers song. Crying, he says that he was filled with sorrow and tenderness (44) and that he was torn unconnected by poetry (44). Another moment of pleasure comes as he is talking to the dragon and expresses a sort of hope and purpose. In defend his resolve not to scare humans so much bonnie for fun, Grendel says, Why shouldnt one change ones ways, improve ones character? (72). In all the dragons insistence that everything is worth nothing, Grendel refuses to believe him. He even says, Nevertheless, something will come of all this (74). His hope makes the readers think all the better of him. Even if, at first, Grendel seems almost kind, and the reader is pleased with his character, he soon becomes more and more evil, and his actions bring about a feeling of uneasiness, to say the least. Before, the killing of community for no apparent reason disgusted Grendel. However, when he brings Unferth home, he kills the twain guards so I wouldnt be misunderstood (90). Later, in probably the most disturbing scene of the book, we see how meaningless killing has become to Grendel. He brutally attacks the queen and is determined to kill her.