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Although Wuthering Heights and Grendel are detailed during two different centuries, both stories share similar themes. Specifically, the two novels explore the suffering of humanity (and of creatures, in Grendel’s case) and the actions, whether good or wicked, that transpire from undergoing misery. While in Josh Gardner’s novel the main source of Grendel’s suffering comes from his isolation, the plight of Emily Brontë’s characters in Wuthering Heights is a result of the disastrous intertwining of people. Though the cause of suffering in the novels differ, the root of both tragedies comes from the lack of connection the main characters feel as they endure on.
Gardner introduces Grendel’s tale by quickly unveiling a stream of consciousness empowered by hardship and pain. This, the image of an estranged monster segregated from all of humanity, establishes the theme of suffering. To illustrate, Grendel refers to himself as a “pointless monster crouched in the shadows” and a “poor old freak” that wreaks of murdered men and children (Gardner 6). It is apparent early on how Grendel sees his role in society, as a vilified creature with no reason to exist whatsoever. Moreover, this highlights Grendel’s pain as he, a murderous being, has no place among the humans he watches from the forest. While Grendel is unable to undermine the
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barrier humans and the dragon have fortified against him, he is still equally unable to communicate with his own mother and connect with her on an intellectual level. This exacerbates the suffering Grendel is subjected to because he is deprived of connection he ought to have. In her feeble attempts to communicate with her son, Grendel’s mother makes unintelligible sounds that stokes the burning fire in Grendel. He views his own mother as “pitiful, foul, [and] waste” (Gardner 55). Grendel’s mother’s inability to speak creates a deeper sense of ostracization for Grendel because he lacks empathy from not only humans, but also his mother. Furthermore, Grendel’s misery is heightened when he listens to the words of the Shaper. The Shaper’s song makes Grendel “shake with rage…[and] churns up [his] belly to nausea” while the members of the Shaper’s audience “shine with...joy” (Gardner 14). Interestingly, it is the suffering of humans that results in something beautiful (unlike the destruction Grendel creates with each kill he commits). The riveting tales the bard recounts instill a sense of hope throughout the Danes; however, they are a type of poison to Grendel. In Wuthering Heights, almost every character introduced experiences their own brand of poison as well. Most are plagued by a harrowing suffering brought on from twisted and unrequited love - a commentary made by Brontë on how misery is always a product of love (Levy). In a series of unreciprocated feelings, exemplified by relationships between people such as Heathcliff and Catherine, Isabella and Heathcliff, Edgar and Catherine, Brontë entails every character’s anguish as it is manifested both emotionally and physically (Ewbank). The characters succumb to their anger, fear, and pain, so much so that their suffering is a cause of the distress of others. This is evident when Lockwood says, “Terror made me cruel,” and proceeds to hurt the ghost of Catherine to escape from her grip (Brontë 22).The characters exact harm upon each other after they experience their own trials in a way to show the relationship between strife and the need for revenge. Wuthering Heights and Grendel both explore suffering via the underlying reason of the characters’ suffering: the disconnect that Grendel and the tenants of Wuthering Heights feel. This is the reason for the ugly deeds the characters of both novels commit. For example, Grendel’s isolation from humanity leads him into the cold embrace of the dragon, who coaxes him into a path of destruction. The torment Grendel is subjected to - a pain that is born from unwanted solitude - makes him more susceptible to the words of the first being to speak to him from a place of empathy. He is able, finally, to connect with somebody; thus, he is loath to dismiss ideas from the first being to engage with him. Consequently, the dragon stops Grendel from accepting the views of the Shaper, propelling Grendel into the malicious ideology of the dragon (Stromme). This leads Grendel to fill the role of an angry monster driven by murder. In this manner, Grendel’s suffering is a link to his future actions. Similarly, the pain Brontë’s characters undergo because of unreciprocated love are the reactants to a disastrous product. While not romantic, the love among Hindley, his father, and Heathcliff is a prime example. The clear preference Hindley’s father has for Heathcliff over Hindley ignites a loathing within Hindley for his adoptive brother. Without the love he desperately yearns from his father, Hindley torments Heathcliff, and later, Heathcliff, pained by the Hindley’s mistreatment, agonizes Hindley’s son Hareton (Ewbank). Hindley’s suffering is the catalyst to the cycle of pain the characters wreak upon each other, much in the way that Grendel’s torture is the cause of the pain that others experience. The suffering that occurs in Wuthering Heights results in death and destruction.
While Grendel’s suffering leads to the same, the Danes, on the other hand, are capable of surpassing the misery of their own lives, unlike those living on Wuthering Heights. The humans’ suffering in Grendel is the source of the bright, beautiful things we admire and aspire to achieve, such as the artistry and hope found in the Shaper’s songs, the philosophy in the Ork’s words, and the hospitality in Wealtheow’s actions (Stromme). Brontë’s humanity wreaks suffering upon each other as an escape; Gardner’s rise above the ghastliness of it all to feel bravery and
hope. Both Brontë and Gardner cover a vast amount of themes in a commentary about the human condition. Most notable in both authors’ novels is the intense suffering the protagonists experience as a result of their position in life. In Grendel, the main character holds pain over the inability to connect with others, while in Wuthering Heights, the characters experience their own bouts of suffering because of how interconnected they are. However, the key to both stories is that characters hurt because they are missing a sense of community and love from others, which leads to characters exacting pain upon others.
Grendel, as a character, has a much more complex identity than just a monster and a human. Some, such as Ruud, classify him as a mixture of three different characteristics, but alone, they tend to conflict with each other. By making the connection that Grendel represents immorality, the previous idea makes more sense, while simultaneously incorporating more aspects of the character into the analysis. In either case, Grendel represents much more than meets the eye, and provides a fascinating insight into
John Gardner's revolutionary style is not encompassed by a single genre; instead, he mixes first-person narrative and several different literary styles to give the "Ruiner of Meadhalls" a unique voice. The use of first-person narrative is essential to convey Grendel's spiritual growth. Were it not for Grendel's often self-deprecatory tone, which varies from mocking - "big shaggy monster intense and earnest, bent like a priest at his prayers" (72) - to bitter and cynical - "I, Grendel, was the dark side. The terrible race that God cursed" (51) - Grendel would be impossible to relate to. Even Grendel's bouts of insanity - (whispering, whispering. Grendel has it occurred to you my dear that you are crazy?)" are easily understood.
"'Pointless accident,' not pattern, governs the world, says Grendel, who, as a consequence, adopts an existentialistic stance," explains Frank Magill in Critical Review of Short Fiction. This point has been expressed in numerous critical papers by various essayists. One may wonder, however, whether this is the only way to interpret an incredibly ambiguous story in which no question is ever clearly answered nor clearly formulated. One may wonder, actually, whether the author meant for his work to be analyzed in this way at all. The author, John Gardner, spins a tale of a monster held viscously to his destiny of an unnatural death. No matter what Grendel does, his death is predetermined. Though he tries to disprove fate to himself by believing in existentialism, the belief that actions create the future, he never validates that point of view. John Gardner's purpose in writing Grendel was to express that the future is completely unavoidable.
Good vs. Evil in John Gardner's Grendel? & nbsp; John Gardner's novel Grendel gives the reader a new perspective on the classic "good vs. Evil" plot. From the start of the book the reader can tell that there is something very unique about the narrator. It is evident that the narrator is a very observant being that can express himself in a very poetic manner. The story is one the reader has most likely seen before, the battle between the glorious thanes and the "evil" beast. In this case, however, the "beast" is the eyes and ears of the. reader. This, of course, forces the reader to analyze situations in the book in the same way that Grendel does. By using this viewpoint, author allows his readers to see the other side of the coin. Therefore, Throughout the course of the novel the reader is able to understand how important to Grendel in defining the human. & nbsp; Grendel's first encounter with the human beings that he literally defines is not a pleasant one. After accidentally trapping himself in a tree he is discovered by a group of thanes out on patrol. Grendel expresses absolutely no hostile intentions towards these "ridiculous" (ch. 2). pp.24) creatures that "moved by clicks." (ch.2, pp.24) The thanes do not understand what Grendel is and are very uneasy about the whole situation.
This ‘beast’, the protagonist of the story, fights an internal struggle, of which is a part of the Hero’s Journey. Grendel is unable to decide what to make of himself and of the world surrounding him. He has only ever known the world as wild and mechanical, yet he is charmed by the artistic brilliance of the Shaper’s words. Grendel ultimately meets a brutal yet peaceful demise. Standing on the face of the same cliff he found himself in the beginning of the novel, surrounded by mindless eyes, he states, “Poor Grendel’s had an accident. So may you all.” (Grendel, John Gardner, pg.174) Previous to this, he questions if what he is feeling is joy. The reader is lead to believe that Grendel must feel nothing but peace. This, is the concluding moment of his
Gardner plays Grendel as like a child when he first discovers the the new world. For example, Grendel announces, “ I played my way farther out into this world” (Gardner 16). This shows Grendel’s first look in the real world. He first thinks that this world is going to be a fine place to live. Unfortunately, Grendel explore more into the world and sees the “Burning eyes of the strangers” (Gardner 17). To explain, Grendel has never seen such people in his life, so he starts to rethink life. In other words, his exploration of the world of humans changes the way he perceives the creatures in the underground world. This mentally changes his self
Throughout John Gardner’s Grendel, the audience bears witness to a creature who has been ostracized by the world around him. Throughout his journey, the stories protagonist tries to live out his own life the way he wants to, despite being labeled as evil by those around him. Due to this constant criticism by his peers, he develops an inferiority complex that he desperately tries to make up for as the story progresses. Throughout his development, Grendel very rapidly moves past his existentialist beginning, through a brief phase of forced skepticism, and into a severely nihilistic point of view.
Grendel, surprisingly, adapts quite well to his society despite its detestation of his existence. Grendel live is a rattlesnake-guarded cave, which allows himself to detach from his society, giving him the necessary space to cope with the troublesome thoughts among his people about Grendel. Unlike Frankenstein, Grendel tries to associate with the members of his civilization but is rejected every time he tries to do so. Every night Grendel goes to Herot to listen to the Sharper’s stories because the history interests him. He is quite intrigued and appreciative of the tales he hears, but when he comes in contact with those from Herot, they do not reciprocate the appreciation of his presence in Herot. The ones he admires so much taunt and torture him to the point they try to kill him for “intruding.” As retaliation, Grendel fights back and raids Herot every night.
Part of the development of a human being involves acquiring the ability to classify good and evil as well as distinguishing right from wrong. It has become an inherent trait that is invariably used in our everyday lives. In John Gardner’s novel, Grendel, the main character, Grendel, seeks to find the meaning of life. Through his journey, a depiction of the forces of good and evil is revealed. Aside from being a novel about the search for the meaning of life, Grendel also suggest society’s good and evil have a meaningful and imbalanced relationship where good prevails evil yet facing evil is still critical.
John Gardner’s Grendel portrays a monster searching for his purpose in life. The characters know the meaning of their lives, but Grendel tries to discover his role and what life has to offer him. Grendel discovers his identity through other characters’ actions and beliefs. In Grendel, John Gardner illustrates the contrasting views of each character to show their view of society and the influence they have on Grendel.
...n very human feelings of resentment and jealousy. Grendel was an unstable and saddened figure because of his outcast status. Though Grendel had many animal attributes and a grotesque, monstrous appearance, he seemed to be guided by vaguely human emotions and impulses. He truthfully showed more of an interior life than one might expect. Exiled to the swamplands outside the boundaries of human society, Grendel’s depiction as an outcast is a symbol of the jealousy and hate that seeks to destroy others' happiness and can ultimately cripple a civilization. This take on the outcast archetype ultimately exposes the Anglo Saxon people’s weaknesses, their doubts and anxieties towards the traditional values that bounded nearly every aspect of their life.
This except of a poem from the Romantic period could be used to describe two characters from two different works of different time periods. Heathcliff - the "dark-skinned gypsy" with the "manners of a gentleman"(WH 5) is the villain/hero of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights (1847) and Hari - the very English, Hindu-Indian, outcast/hero of Paul Scott's The Jewel in the Crown (1966) share many common characteristics. Both represent a lower class of dark-skinned people that are disadvantaged by the times and societies that they live in. Each fights outward prejudices as well as their own inner battles to determine self-worth. Heathcliff and Hari find themselves in love with white-skinned women who represent the superior class in...
The story begins from the point of view of an outsider, who temporarily resides in Yorkshire Moor, Northern England in 1801. The actual event concerns itself with two families who live in Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering Heights, each four miles apart, in 1778. Thrushcross Grange is two miles within Thrushcross Park. Gimmerton is the nearest town that provides residence for minor characters. Penistone Crags is a desolate, but beautiful rocky landscape that is a mile and a half away from the Heights that becomes a symbol of freedom, youth, and carefreeness; this is especially true for Catherine Linton. The moor generally experiences harsh winters and mild and cool summers. The weather in the moor often reflects the mood of the protagonists,
...zes humanity in this scene by portraying them as the evil beings instead of Grendel who is the helpless victim of their savage assault. The men attack Grendel solely because they could not understand him and because of his appearance. Grendel makes no attempt to harm the men but to communicate with them while they are the ones that savagely tried to kill him. John Gardner portrays the men as the real monsters who mercilessly tried to kill Grendel while he was defenseless. Grendel has another revelation due to this attack in where he states. “The world resists me and I resist the world… “That’s all there is.”(Gardner, 28) Grendel makes this assertion as a means to organized the ways he perceives the world. While he once saw the world as a confusing array of frightening images, now he can separate the world into categories: those who do not resemble him and himself.
(2) Emily Bronte’s purpose in writing Wuthering Heights is to depict unfulfilled love in a tragic romance novel and hence the theme of Wuthering Heights is love is pain. Emily Bronte reveals an important life lesson that love is not sufficient for happiness and if anything, stirs up more agony. This message is important because, although it is difficult to accept, the message is devastatingly honest. In Wuthering Heights, two characters named Heathcliff and Catherine loved each other immensely. However, their pride and adamance disabled them from making any progress on their romantic relationship. In fact, Heathcliff and Catherine purposely hurt each another through reckless and cruel actions. The author is exemplifying a recurring theme in history that love is associated with pain. The message allows readers to be aware that love is not constant perfection and happiness.