How Is Grendel Portrayed As A Monster

In the story “Grendel” by John Gardner, the monster Grendel is portrayed as a beast. Grendel is shown as a villainous monster in the epic poem, Beowulf. Throughout the story, Grendel shows characteristics including jealousy and bitterness. These features substitute Grendel's murderous intentions and turns him into an evil creature. Near the end of the novel, Grendel’s villian trends transforms his life into a never ending battle for acceptance. His only desire was to be accepted by the humans. While he is depicted as a monster, he is just someone who wants to be accepted and acknowledged. Humans used ideas of heroism and appearance to make the world as what they wanted it to be, and because of these ideas, Grendel did not fit the mold and is

In Gardner's novel, this theme of isolation is repeated when the community shuns Grendel. Grendel has always been alone, even before this. His mother does not even speak enough to be considered a companion and the animals around him are too simple minded for a real relationship. The only creature that Grendel hoped to bond with were humans, due to sharing their language. The humans however, never embraced Grendel. Grendel’s first attempts at communication with humans when he "staggered out into the open and up toward the hall...groaning out, 'Mercy !Peace!'"(51), turns into a near death experience with weapons. Humans ignore Grendel and makes him live his life in isolation. Grendel's loneliness is shown to be a contribution to his downfall. Grendel despises his loneliness that eventually changes him into a bitter creature whose goal is to destroy Hrothgar. This dedication, fed by resentment, causes Grendel's transition into a villan. Instead of leading a peaceful life, Grendel chooses to be consumed by the idea that society is evil and destructive by nature. Grendel now refers to himself as, "Grendel, Ruiner of mead halls, Wrecker of Kings"(80), and feels that it is his duty to kill citizens.