Journal 2: Who is Grendel?

Who is Grendel?

                There are many important characters in Beowulf, but of the most important is the character of Grendel, the antagonist of the epic. The character of Grendel can be described as antagonistic, static, and flat. Grendel’s grotesque and horrible actions, motives, and symbolism make Grendel the antagonist of the story. He is constantly terrorizing and killing the Danes and is the monster that Beowulf will eventually face. The lack of insight into Grendel’s thoughts and the lack of change in Grendel make Grendel a flat and static character. Grendel doesn’t truly change throughout the epic which can be seen through the actions of Grendel. Also, the motives of Grendel are given according to the Danes, but the true ideals of Grendel and his mind are not exposed in the story, making him a flat character. Finally, what Grendel symbolizes in combination with his actions and motives make Grendel the antagonist in the epic. The character of Grendel is antagonistic, static and flat. This can be seen through the actions, motives, and symbolism of Grendel.

                The actions of Grendel are a vital aspect in discovering the characteristics of Grendel. Grendel’s first encounter with the Danes comes when he enters Herot, the mead-hall of the Danes. In Herot, he finds the warriors sleeping and in greed “snatches up thirty men, smashed them” and ate them. Grendel then continues to murder and terrorize the Danes for years to come.  In fact, Grendel has caused “twelve winters of grief for Hrothgar, King of the Danes.” This quote shows that Grendel has continued his murdering for 12 years. Grendel’s incessant murdering shows how he is a static character. Throughout these twelve years, Grendel has never had a change of heart. He does not feel sympathy for the Danes and simply continues his killing. If Grendel had stopped his murdering and lost his taste for revenge, then he could have been considered a round character, but Grendel’s lack of change constitutes him as a static character. Also, the actions of Grendel are important in him becoming the antagonist to Beowulf. Without him terrorizing the Danes there would be no need for Beowulf. As a result, Grendel’s murdering is one important aspect of him becoming the antagonist. Overall, the actions of Grendel are extremely important for two reasons. First of all, the constant acts of murder that Grendel commits over the 12 years shows his lack of change and supports the fact that he is a static character. Finally, without the acts of murder that Grendel commits it would be impossible for him to become the antagonist.

                Grendel’s motives are also very important in the discovery of Grendel’s characteristics. In Beowulf, the Danes describe Grendel’s motives as a curiosity for what occurs in the mead-hall and revenge for exile. In Beowulf, Grendel is described as “A powerful monster, living down in the darkness, growled in pain, impatient as day after day the music rand loud in that hall.” This quote exposes Grendel’s extreme curiosity in Herot, the mead-hall. This curiosity eventually drives Grendel to explore the mead-hall which leads to him murdering and eating the warriors.  Also, Grendel is said to be “conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain, murderous creatures banished by God.” The significance of this quote is that it shows why Grendel is so eager for revenge. Grendel resents his exile and as a result, Grendel’s exile fuels Grendel’s want of revenge. Consequently, this want of revenge fuels Grendel’s acts of murder. Overall, these motives push Grendel to perform the acts of murder that make him the antagonist.  While the motives given by the Danes may prove true, the reader never truly gets any insight into the mind of Grendel himself. The motives given in Beowulf are told from the perspective of the Danes, while Grendel’s own motives are never exposed. As a result, Grendel is a flat character because his traits and motives are confined to what the Danes tell the reader. The traits of Grendel never expand beyond what the Danes believe. Overall, the motives given to the reader by the Danes show why Grendel is so inclined to murder the Danes and is important in Grendel becoming the antagonist.  Also, the narrow set of motives and traits given by the Danes make Grendel a flat character. Overall, the motives are extremely important in developing Grendel as the antagonist and as a flat character.

                What Grendel symbolizes is extremely important in defining the character of Grendel.  Grendel is clearly a symbol of evil and revenge. In the story Grendel is described as being “so set on murder that no crime could ever be enough, no savage assault quench his lust for evil.” The fact that Grendel commits so many acts of evil and that he is described as having a “lust for evil” helps to support the idea that Grendel is in fact a symbol of evil. Also, the fact that Beowulf must fight Grendel to save the Danes helps to enforce the idea that Grendel symbolizes evil. On top of evil, Grendel also represents revenge.  Grendel’s resentment towards exile and his hate shows that he symbolizes revenge. In the epic it states that “hate had triumphed” and of how Grendel “relished his savage war on the Danes keeping the bloody feud alive, seeking no peace.” This feud comes as a result of Grendel’s want of revenge for exile. Grendel’s motive of revenge makes him a perfect symbol for revenge. Overall, the symbolism found within Grendel is the final aspect in making Grendel the antagonist. By making Grendel a symbol and evil and revenge, Beowulf is given the opportunity to defeat these ideals.

                The actions, motives, and symbolism behind Grendel were all very important in developing Grendel as an antagonistic, static, and flat character. The actions of Grendel, in particular the killing, are extremely important in defining Grendel as a static character. Grendel’s motives are also very important. The motives provided by the Danes helps to define Grendel as a flat character because Grendel’s traits and own true motives are not exposed. This leaves Grendel with a very narrow set of motives and traits. Finally, what Grendel symbolizes in combination with Grendel’s actions and motives develop one of the most important aspects of Grendel’s character—that Grendel is the antagonist. Without the actions, motives, or symbolism behind Grendel there would be no need for Beowulf because there would be no antagonist. Grendel’s character is vital in the story of Beowulf as Grendel’s static and flat nature allow him to become the antagonist to Beowulf.