Beowulf Persuasive Essay
“You have created a monster and it will destroy you” (Garrett Fort). Beowulf translated by John McNamara, the character Grendel plays an important role in aspects such as being an outcast, a murderer, and a “monster”. Grendel being considered an outcast of society has caused him to view the world surrounding him mischievously that hates him for his actions. Grendel is introduced as a monster, a relative to Cain’s kin, which symbolizes the birth of evil. The first attack happened 12 years into Hrothgar’s rein and has not stopped, he has been killing the Danish warriors since then. McNamara claims “Grendel was the name of the ghastly stranger famed wandered in wastelands/this unhappy beast dwelt in the country of monstrous creatures/after the creator had condemned all those among Cain’s
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Grendel is a creature that feeds off of humans. He doesn’t kill for pleasure but to prove that not everyone is willing to follow the Germanic Heroic Code, earning him a bad reputation. McNamara states “That struggle had been too strong/but after one night, Grendel once more committed /yet more murderous slaughter/he mourned not for his horrid deeds: he was too bent on those/when danger became clear/as the truth was told by signs of terror” (Beowulf pg.7 133-141).This creates the aspect that Grendel is a cold blooded murderer with no sense of right and wrong but simply for pleasure. This also creates different interpretations on the reason why Grendel kills. He might kill because he dislikes people viewing him as a creature not a human. He can also kill because of problems that were not discussed in the poem, the Danes might have killed his father and he is seeking revenge, since he is never mentioned. Overall Grendel’s killings are caused by fear, hatred, and revenge that result in his reputation
Grendel is a creature that feeds off of humans. He doesn’t kill for pleasure but to prove that not everyone is willing to follow the Germanic Heroic Code, earning him a bad reputation. McNamara states “That struggle had been too strong/but after one night, Grendel once more committed /yet more murderous slaughter/he mourned not for his horrid deeds: he was too bent on those/when danger became clear/as the truth was told by signs of terror” (Beowulf pg.7 133-141).This creates the aspect that Grendel is a cold blooded murderer with no sense of right and wrong but simply for pleasure. This also creates different interpretations on the reason why Grendel kills. He might kill because he dislikes people viewing him as a creature not a human. He can also kill because of problems that were not discussed in the poem, the Danes might have killed his father and he is seeking revenge, since he is never mentioned. Overall Grendel’s killings are caused by fear, hatred, and revenge that result in his reputation