Existentialism In John Gardner's Grendel

Existentialism in Grendel

In the book, Grendel by John Gardner, Grendel shows that existentialism is significant in his life. Many of his decisions are based on the thought of whether they have a meaning behind it or not. He tries to be nihilistic and think that the world has no meaning but he ends up being existentialist as he cares about how his choices will be perceived. There are different characters that have existentialism in their lives which allows them to function throughout their world. This book promotes existentialism because the different main characters take on their unique roles throughout the book and create their own meaning.

The Shaper creates his own meaning by using his poetry to not only entertain the Danes but also to

He desperately wants to be a hero, that he follows Grendel back to his cave in an attempt to attack him. But when he gets there, he is exhausted and cannot attack Grendel so he encourages Grendel to kill him so he will be remembered as a hero. “‘It will be sung year on year and age on age that Unferth went down through the burning lake-’ he paused to pant ‘-and gave his life in battle with the world-rim monster,” (87). This is in Grendel’s cave and Unferth is monologuing about his own heroic philosophies. This shows Unferth’s burning desire to be known as a hero in the present and in the future. “Except in the life of a hero, the whole world’s meaningless,” (89). This shows Unferth’s existentialist side as he creates his own meaning in the world by attempting to be a hero. He so desperately wants to be a hero that he is willing to die as the man who fought against Grendel, the monster. He is blinded by the want of fame, that he does not really know what it means to truly be a hero and this provokes Grendel to mock him. “So much for heroism. So much for the harvest-virgin,” (90). This when Grendel silently mocks Unferth as he carries Unferth back to his home. He calls Unferth a “harvest-virgin” because his heroic views on life have been destroyed by Grendel’s refusal to kill

“I wanted it, yes! Even if I must be the outcast,” (55). This is after Grendel has listened to the Shaper’s story about Cain and Abel. Grendel learns that he is the cursed descendant of Cain and is forever destined to be a monster. At first, he didn’t want to believe that is was true but after a while, he gladly accepted the role thus creating his own meaning. “I was Grendel, Ruiner of Meadhalls, Wrecker of Kings!” (80). This is when Grendel is experiencing his newfound invincibility to the humans and their weapons and he is tormenting them. After he visits the dragon in Chapter 5, Grendel has a renewed sense of confidence of who he is - which is a monster. In Chapter 6, he continues to terrorize the Danes and pursuing his monstrous desires. Grendel is acting upon his role as the monster because after speaking to the dragon, he realizes that nothing can stop