Mary Shelley’s epistolary novel Frankenstein published in 1818, and John Gardner’s novel Grendel, published in 1971, are two classic literary monsters novels. Sharing many similarities, themes, styles, and monsters created through unnatural means. Grendel and the creature in Frankenstein are often considered monsters due to their physical appearances and actions. However, these assumptions are accurate; Grendel, and the creatures are not only monsters but rather true monsters. They are evil and inhuman while causing harm to others. The true monster of Frankenstein is the creature that can be seen through the several violent and destructive acts in the novel the creature commits, including the murder of Victor Frankenstein’s younger brother William, as well as Victor's friend Henry Clerval. “The mildness of my nature had fled, and all within me was turned to gall and bitterness. “For the first time, the feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom, and I did not strive to control them, but allowing myself to be borne away by the stream, I bent my mind towards injury and death” (16). The creature's actions are driven by a desire for revenge against his creator, whom he blames for his miserable existence and rejection by society. In this sense, …show more content…
Grendel is a powerful, evil creature that terrorizes the people of Heorot. Grendel’s violent behavior towards innocent people clearly indicates his monstrous nature. Grendel regularly attacks the people of Heorot, killing and devouring them without remorse. “An evil idea came over me-so evil it made me shiver as I smiled-and I sidled across to the table” (83). A desire for violence and destruction drives him, and his attacks cause widespread fear and panic among the people. Just like Frankenstein creature, Grendel lacks empathy and disregard for human life. He shows no remorse for his violent actions and seems to enjoy causing pain and
Up until the end of Chapter 7, Grendel’s actions are influenced by the dragon. He believes nothing matters, there is no good or bad, and everybody eventually dies. The people of Heort know Grendel as a monster and a killer and he lives up to his reputation.
The feeling of being an outsider, of being a part of the world around oneself but never truly belonging grows over a period of time. Being harassed and condemed for simply being alive. Being viewed not as a creature of the earth, but as a monster, feeds the hatred that lies within the soul. In the novels Frankenstein and Grendel, both characters are portrayed as less than alive, monsters that have no place in the world. Outsiders who turn their lonliness and pain into hatred for others, with killing being their only source of pleasure.
His “weapon” was his appearance itself, a walking creature with other ruin human body parts that made him up. On the contrary of similarities, like everything else, these monsters portrayed characteristics that differed them from each other such as the fact that Frankenstein was horrid on the outside but very soft and emotional on the inside. He defiantly knew what it felt like to be talked down on and feel the pain from it. Grendel was not very emotional, he carried himself to be very strong and uplifting in himself. Despite their differences, Grendel and Frankenstein are both similar in the way that they were both greatly feared by their surrounding people.
Both Grendel and the monster have an appearance that prompts humanity to rebuke
Using a monster to help us examine what it means to be human is how the novel helps readers to make that distinction between humans, and monsters. Indeed, aside from Grendel’s horrible appearance and nasty eating habits, very little actually separated him aside from the humans such as Hrothgar or Wealtheow. Even his extreme brutality was not unique. The author, John Gardner, stresses man’s inherent violence many times throughout the novel. Additionally, Grendel’s ethical journey was a very human one, its urgency intensified by his status as an outsider.
Grendel and Frankenstein Paper Grendel, the savage beast from John Gardner’s Grendel, and the Monster, the murderous creation from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, seek companionship but ultimately turn to violence when they are rejected, suggesting that all beings need love. Although the two actively seek it, companionship eludes Grendel and the Monster, leaving them terribly alone and desiring someone to love and be loved by. The most notable example is his reaction to laying eyes upon Wealtheow, where he practically falls apart inside with lust.
He presents the idea that monsters help people to practice unnatural scenarios that reflect moral difficulties in society. Two Gothic, fiction novels that feature monsters are Bram Stoker's Dracula and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Both novels relate to Asma's idea about the significance of monsters. However, the novels are greatly comparable. There are distinguished similarities and differences between the conflicting themes of religion and science in Bram Stoker's Dracula and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
As encounters between people occur memories or moments that may impact one’s future are created. In Frankenstein by Mary Shelly and Grendel by John Gardner encounters between characters help develop and progress the story. The relationships between the major and the minor characters in Frankenstein and Grendel help illuminate the themes of lost innocence, isolation, and power. In Frankenstein, Shelly develops Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who creates a monster, through the loss of his mother, which results in the loss of his innocence.
Monsters are often classified based upon their appearance and inhumane characteristics. In the book Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein tears apart graveyards for the formation of a new being, which is brought to life with electricity. Frankenstein was fascinated with life itself and wanted to create this being through the dead with the use of science. After multiple years of suturing this new being together Victor succeeded in bringing this creature to life. Although realizing what he had just created Victor is repulsed by this new being and calls him a Monster.
The Creature, created by Victor Frankenstein in the novel Frankenstein, was a hideous, grotesque creation that was curious about the world he was brought into. Originally, the Creature had no intentions of harming anyone and possessed no anger towards any person, but after being slandered by everyone he encountered he began to explain his actions by saying, “I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind?” (Shelley). The effects of the mistreatment of the Creature led to him becoming hateful and chaotic as a result.
With a description like that it is not hard to imagine Grendel’s homeland as a dark, desolate place where no joy or love can be found. Grendel is jealous of the people of Heorot because they have all that he does not, joy, happiness and love, this is where his aggression stems from which attributes to his jealousy. Grendel grew up around nothing but monsters so it is easy to infer that what he is truly yearning for is human acceptance and he knows deep down that he will never receive it, so that is why he is so angry. Like many people, Grendel lets his anger get the best of him and he attacked the mead hall. Anger ran through his veins for about 12 years, he did not give the people of Heorot a break, instead he wreaked havoc come nightfall.
Throughout the novel Grendel by John Gardner, Grendel comes across as a ruthless monster who takes pride in murdering others. His actions give the impression that he is an evil figure, but in hindsight he is not as evil as he appears to be. Gardner makes the readers feel sympathy for Grendel because Grendel lives a lonely life, is consistently treated poorly, and attempts to make peace. If Grendel was truly evil, readers would have difficulty having sympathy for him. Therefore, Grendel is not evil and is no different than the rest of humanity.
This is the beginning of Grendel falling directly into the role that the dragon said he would need to fill. Grendel’s murderous tendencies completely reflect the monstrous side of his personality and the more he kills the more he grows insane, separating from rational, humanistic thought. “I am swollen with excitement, bloodlust and joy and a strange fear that mingle in my chest like the twisting rage of a bone-fire... I am blazing, half-crazy with joy” (168). It is clear that, by the time Beowulf arrives, Grendel has embraced the fact that he is required to be evil, despite the fact that he previously claimed he would oppose that destiny.
Grendel in the novel displays the idea that he is far more superior than mankind. He mentions, "I am swollen with excitement, bloodlust and joy and a strange fear that mingle in my chest like the twisting rage of a bonfire" (Gardner 167-168). Grendel knows that that the people fear him because he is different and he uses that to his advantage. The "Monster", Grendel, seems to be fascinated in attacking Meadhall and is not frightened at all. Although he is brave in the novel, Grendel in the epic poem is described in being scared and weak on the attack at Meadhall.
In the book Frankenstein, Mary Shelley used distinctive techniques to draw the reader in and find themselves to be similar, as well as dissimilar, to characters in at least one way. Shelley knew how to tie some characters together, even if they seemed to be complete opposites. Victor contrasted with the monster he created is one of the most prominent examples of her work. Throughout the book, some similarities and differences between the Victor and the monster consist of their relations to nature, desire for family, the reactions of those around them, and as well as their reactions to difficult situations. Frankenstein is beautifully written and deserves all the recognition it receives.