Grendel

Theme Words: 

Pointless, Mechanical, and Violent.

Quotations:

"But deer, like rabbits and bears and even men, can make, concerning my race, no delicate distinctions. That is their happiness: they see all life without observing it. They're buried like crabs in mud. Except men, of course" (Gardner 8). When Grendel first sees man he realizes that they are different from the other creatures he had previously observed because they have the ability to think, plan, and observe life around them. This is what makes Grendel afraid of the humans from the start even though he is a terrifyingly huge beast.

Connections:

Grendel shows the same type of signs and emotions of people that have depression. Grendel always expresses the cynical views of life rather than the positive and lives in solitude. People with depression usually have a bad view on life or their situation in life. Grendel also feels alone because no one ever really looks at him or talks to him, even his mother barely interacts with him. Depression can also be caused by loneliness or a small amount of interaction. Grendel is a great example of someone with Depression because of his views on life and how he is treated.