Revenge, the common instinctual sense of self-justice exists in us all. Its manifestations may be observed through primitive, physical violence, skulking, character-assassination, or perhaps by simply taking it to authorities for them to dish out cold justice. Our need for vengeance unites us, while our actions with it divide us. The unknown author of Beowulf, however, was able to add another use to revenge. The author drove the plot through cause and effect, showed how alike characters are through their actions, yet distant through their motivations. The first arc of Beowulf begins with Grendel, the cursed descendant of Cain--enemy of man--who follows in the footsteps of his ancestor. Grendel, however, isn’t sophisticated enough to