Grendel, The Man
“Beowulf” is the oldest surviving English epic poem. It’s written in the beginning of Christianity. The poet wrote “Beowulf” to judge the godless society that lacks the ability to accept the difference. The society punishes people who are different from others, and causes them from being viewed as outsiders to actually being monsters. In the 7th and 8th century, people who are born with birth defects are described as monsters. Grendel and his dysfunctional family are described as evil, ferocious monsters. For example, line #1-2 “a powerful monster, living down in the darkness, growled in pain” and line #63-64 “sorrow heaped at his door by hell-forged hands”. Look the exaggerated describing of Grendel’s physical appearances. He is a human, but the society doesn’t think so, people viewed him as an outsider, so Grendel was “shut away from men (line #25),” the society doesn’t accept him. In addition, Hrothgar states in the original poem, Grendel is “fatherless”; his family culture conflicts with the “norms”, too. Hrothgar judges Grendel for that. Society treats Grendel unfairly, people keep him away, refuse to accept him, and lack morality to accept the difference. Grendel was innocent. It was that society turns him into an evil monster. Beowulf plays an important role in the poem. He also has a big influence on Grendel and his family. For example, line #335-337 “Higlac’s brave follower tearing at his hands. The monster’s hatred rose higher, but his power has gone. He twisted in pain” show them Grendel is killed, the way Beowulf kills Grendel displays a lack of humanity. Nevertheless, “story after story, would weave a net of words for Beowulf’s victory, tying the knot of his verses smoothly, swiftly (line #391-394)” Beowulf gets the victory and people are proud of him” but what about Grendel? He gets nothing but a painful death. Grendel’s mother kills people after she sees Grendel’s...