John Gardner´s Grendel: An Epic Struggle Between Good and Evil

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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.
The relationship between good and evil is generally morality against immorality and has a major role in the novel. An action that is life preserving and sacrificial is believed to be “good” in our modern society. King Hrothgar’s wife, Wealtheow, is a complete representation of this concept. When tensions run high between the two kings, King Hygmod offers his daughter as “Wealtheow, or holy servant of common good” to King Hrothgar to preserve their peaceful environment (Gardner 100). King Hygmod’s description of her as a “servant” exemplifies the sacrifice of her personal life for assistance in maintaining peace between the two kings. On the other hand, degradation and hurt and overall suffrage created by one’s activity determines the denotation of the word “evil.” This idea is best resembled by Grendel’s feelings toward a statement made by the Dragon he meets on his journey. He is shocked to find that the dragon “could lie” and “that [h]e was evil enough” to do so (Gardner 71). The lie is what degrades Grendel as a person and he interprets as evil. These antithetical opposites of nature are connected because of their strong ef...

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... by murdering Grendel, this action is expressed as moral. This idea is reconfirmed when the Dragon explains to Grendel how he is “the brute existent by which they learn to define themselves” in reference to men (Gardner 73). This further suggests that society requires evil to present them an explanation for their life and actions.
Through the analysis of characters and their actions, the novel Grendel suggests society has adopted good and evil’s unequal relationship for meaningfulness in life. The modern society is built on the opposite forces of nature and that evil must be challenged although good prevails it. However, evil and good is subjective which makes the true struggle between good and evil. Moreover, our every day actions are differentiated between good and evil acts. Unfortunately, while this occurs, good and evil will never be a black and white concept.

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