A Trace of Grendel's Philosophical Journey
Grendel by John Gardner consists of twelve chapters each assigned their own astrological sign and philosophy. Throughout the chapters, different influences sway Grendel from one philosophy to the next. He is constantly torn between the philosophies that would unite him and the humans and those that distance him from them. His philosophical journey occurs over a period of twelve years, twelve astrological signs, and twelve chapters.
Aries is the first astrological sign. Aries symbolizes the beginning of a new cycle analogous to the cycle that has just ended. In the first chapter, this sign is shown through Grendel’s describing of yet another year of destroying the meadhall door and watching the humans rebuild it. In the chapter is a ram – which is the meaning of Aries. Grendel observes that the ram behaves now as it did the previous year and the year before that.
Chapter two starts with the beginning of the chronology: Grendel is a child naive to the dangers of the world. He is a child who is still under the care and influence of his mother. When he gets stuck in the tree and threatened by the humans, he calls out for his mother to save him. Later, when he tries to tell her all that had happened, she stared at him blankly. “She’d forgotten language long ago, or maybe had never known any” (Gardner 28). This bridge between Grendel and, so far, the only being that would willingly communicate with him caused Grendel to recoil into himself. His existence is all that he is sure of; without communication Grendel had no confirmation of the world. Everything that existed, Grendel could only account as being a product of his mind. This philosophy, that Grendel exists and nothing more, is called Solipsism.
In chapter three, as with the dualism characteristic of the astrological sign Gemini, sophism takes the form of the Shaper. The Shaper was able to make the Danes want to believe the history he sang, against their knowledge. Grendel knew better also, though he was so drawn in by the Shapers words and melodious harp songs. In chapter four, the Shaper taught the Danes the theology of the Old Testament. He spoke how the earth was first built long ago and the feud between the two brothers. Grendel wanted the Shapers words to be true because it would bring order to the world and include him in the scheme of things, even if he must be the outcast. He believed the sophists and even staggered toward the meadhall groaning “Mercy! Peace!” (Gardner 51) for the part that his ancestor played in the curse of the race.
Chapter five brings an entirely new philosophy, one that Grendel has trouble understanding fully. The simplicity of the Shapers philosophy is rejected when Grendel speaks with the dragon. The dragon tells Grendel about time and space and how the humans believe “simple facts in isolation and facts to connect them – ands and buts” (Gardner 64). He stresses the connectedness of everything, the finiteness of importance, and the fact that Grendel is what stimulates the humans. The dragon holds existentialist views; he believes that there are no intrinsic morals or values in the world. Basically his message to Grendel was to attach meaning to things (or not) as he would like. Chapter six opens with Grendel’s rebirth as “Ruiner of Meadhalls, Wrecker of Kings” (Gardner 80). Though he was still a little skeptic of the truth of the dragon’s words, he took on this role.
Chapter seven introduced another threat to the Scyldings: a neighboring king. As a truce, the neighboring king gave Hrothgar his sister, Wealtheow. Libra, the sign of conciliators and the astrological sign of this chapter, represents balance. Wealtheow brought peace to the Scyldings and Helmings and to the men in the village. Her Christian faith balanced Grendel’s skepticism. Christianity is again the item philosophical contemplation in Grendel’s mind, but Wealtheow exposed him to the New Testament of Christianity, unlike the Shaper.
The next four chapters are mere expressions of philosophies. In chapter eight, the characters Hrothulf and Red Horse come in, but more importantly, Machiavellian’s philosophy. Red horse mentors Hrothulf with the statecraft “All systems are evil. All governments are evil. Not just a trifle evil. Monstrously evil” (Gardner 120). Hrothulf, like a scorpion, the astrological sign Scorpio, schemes to revolt against the fate of Hrothgar’s throne. In chapter nine, Grendel allows Ork, the eldest priest, that he is the Great Destroyer. He requests that Ork tell him about the King of the Gods. When Ork is finished, Grendel wanders off as other priests approach Ork. Ork tries to relay his experience to them, but the priests doubt that it is truth. They call the theory ridiculous and even suggest that Ork be more regular – a very hypocritical thing to do.
Chapter ten, representing the tenth astrological sign, the Capricorn, is the chapter in which the Shaper dies. This troubles Grendel because, along with the Shaper, history dies. Also, he feels that the village is now on its own. Capricorns are pessimistic just as Grendel is in this chapter. By its end, Grendel speaks nihilistically, saying “Nihil ex nihilo, I always say,” (Gardner 150) meaning nothing comes from nothing.
In chapter eleven, Grendel reflects on the philosophies he observes from the characters in the book. He came to understand that all order is “theoretical, unreal – a harmless, sensible, smiling-mask men slide between two great, dark realities, the self and the world” (Gardner 157). In the end, Grendel asserted that “things fade; alternatives exclude” (Gardner 159) which is a nihilistic implication. Founded by Nietzsche, nihilism is the philosophical belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. With theology out of the question, Grendel dies a nihilist.
In the beginning, Grendel did not know what to think about the world. Over the years, a series of events exposed Grendel to different philosophies. He had a difficult time trying to decide what the truth was. He often wondered whether order existed in the world, whether God existed and whether he had a role in society. In the last chapters, Grendel sides with nihilism. This belief in the inability to communicate and find value in life accurately reflects the true inner feelings of Grendel throughout his journey.
Aries is the first astrological sign. Aries symbolizes the beginning of a new cycle analogous to the cycle that has just ended. In the first chapter, this sign is shown through Grendel’s describing of yet another year of destroying the meadhall door and watching the humans rebuild it. In the chapter is a ram – which is the meaning of Aries. Grendel observes that the ram behaves now as it did the previous year and the year before that.
Chapter two starts with the beginning of the chronology: Grendel is a child naive to the dangers of the world. He is a child who is still under the care and influence of his mother. When he gets stuck in the tree and threatened by the humans, he calls out for his mother to save him. Later, when he tries to tell her all that had happened, she stared at him blankly. “She’d forgotten language long ago, or maybe had never known any” (Gardner 28). This bridge between Grendel and, so far, the only being that would willingly communicate with him caused Grendel to recoil into himself. His existence is all that he is sure of; without communication Grendel had no confirmation of the world. Everything that existed, Grendel could only account as being a product of his mind. This philosophy, that Grendel exists and nothing more, is called Solipsism.
In chapter three, as with the dualism characteristic of the astrological sign Gemini, sophism takes the form of the Shaper. The Shaper was able to make the Danes want to believe the history he sang, against their knowledge. Grendel knew better also, though he was so drawn in by the Shapers words and melodious harp songs. In chapter four, the Shaper taught the Danes the theology of the Old Testament. He spoke how the earth was first built long ago and the feud between the two brothers. Grendel wanted the Shapers words to be true because it would bring order to the world and include him in the scheme of things, even if he must be the outcast. He believed the sophists and even staggered toward the meadhall groaning “Mercy! Peace!” (Gardner 51) for the part that his ancestor played in the curse of the race.
Chapter five brings an entirely new philosophy, one that Grendel has trouble understanding fully. The simplicity of the Shapers philosophy is rejected when Grendel speaks with the dragon. The dragon tells Grendel about time and space and how the humans believe “simple facts in isolation and facts to connect them – ands and buts” (Gardner 64). He stresses the connectedness of everything, the finiteness of importance, and the fact that Grendel is what stimulates the humans. The dragon holds existentialist views; he believes that there are no intrinsic morals or values in the world. Basically his message to Grendel was to attach meaning to things (or not) as he would like. Chapter six opens with Grendel’s rebirth as “Ruiner of Meadhalls, Wrecker of Kings” (Gardner 80). Though he was still a little skeptic of the truth of the dragon’s words, he took on this role.
Chapter seven introduced another threat to the Scyldings: a neighboring king. As a truce, the neighboring king gave Hrothgar his sister, Wealtheow. Libra, the sign of conciliators and the astrological sign of this chapter, represents balance. Wealtheow brought peace to the Scyldings and Helmings and to the men in the village. Her Christian faith balanced Grendel’s skepticism. Christianity is again the item philosophical contemplation in Grendel’s mind, but Wealtheow exposed him to the New Testament of Christianity, unlike the Shaper.
The next four chapters are mere expressions of philosophies. In chapter eight, the characters Hrothulf and Red Horse come in, but more importantly, Machiavellian’s philosophy. Red horse mentors Hrothulf with the statecraft “All systems are evil. All governments are evil. Not just a trifle evil. Monstrously evil” (Gardner 120). Hrothulf, like a scorpion, the astrological sign Scorpio, schemes to revolt against the fate of Hrothgar’s throne. In chapter nine, Grendel allows Ork, the eldest priest, that he is the Great Destroyer. He requests that Ork tell him about the King of the Gods. When Ork is finished, Grendel wanders off as other priests approach Ork. Ork tries to relay his experience to them, but the priests doubt that it is truth. They call the theory ridiculous and even suggest that Ork be more regular – a very hypocritical thing to do.
Chapter ten, representing the tenth astrological sign, the Capricorn, is the chapter in which the Shaper dies. This troubles Grendel because, along with the Shaper, history dies. Also, he feels that the village is now on its own. Capricorns are pessimistic just as Grendel is in this chapter. By its end, Grendel speaks nihilistically, saying “Nihil ex nihilo, I always say,” (Gardner 150) meaning nothing comes from nothing.
In chapter eleven, Grendel reflects on the philosophies he observes from the characters in the book. He came to understand that all order is “theoretical, unreal – a harmless, sensible, smiling-mask men slide between two great, dark realities, the self and the world” (Gardner 157). In the end, Grendel asserted that “things fade; alternatives exclude” (Gardner 159) which is a nihilistic implication. Founded by Nietzsche, nihilism is the philosophical belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. With theology out of the question, Grendel dies a nihilist.
In the beginning, Grendel did not know what to think about the world. Over the years, a series of events exposed Grendel to different philosophies. He had a difficult time trying to decide what the truth was. He often wondered whether order existed in the world, whether God existed and whether he had a role in society. In the last chapters, Grendel sides with nihilism. This belief in the inability to communicate and find value in life accurately reflects the true inner feelings of Grendel throughout his journey.