nouy hon ohnkky

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

understand what Grendel is and are very uneasy about the whole situation.

Like animals they are frightened of anything that is different from what

they are used to. When Grendel attempts to communicate they show their

\ being able to view the story from Grendel's point of view the reader might

assume that the humans had every right to attack. Another example of the

same type of simple-mindedness is their second premature attack on Grendel.

After hearing the shaper's words Grendel weeps, "'Mercy! Peac e!'"(ch.4,

pp.50) in the hopes of salvation from the god of these men. The men, in a

once again. Instead of killing the men, which would have been an easy task

for the giant, Grendel escapes into the night. This action alone defines

the men as the "beasts" and Grendel as the victim.

Another aspect of the humans in the story that Grendel defines is

their concept of a hero. Not only does he allow for heroes to exist he

gives them their purpose in life. Grendel is the monster in the darkness

that every loyal thane would defend his king against. Without Grendel this

unique situation would not exist. On the other hand, Grendel has the

ability of humiliating and causing a man to be named a coward. He does

this to none other than Unferth. Unferth is treated like a hero because he

would defeat the "monster" Grendel, or die trying. When Grendel does not

allow him to complete this task he is shamed by his fellow thanes. Grendel

realizes that by killing the man he will be defining him as a hero in the

eyes of the humans. Considering the way Grendel was treated by Unferth,

and others like him, it becomes easy to sympathize with him extracting this

tiny bit of revenge. Later on in the story, however, Grendel