The novel Grendel represents a key conflict between chaos and order that are both portrayed throughout the entire book. More commonly seen, however, was Grendel's issue of creating chaos with his terrorizing of the Danes and his hatred for everything. With Grendel, random chance reigns due to the fact that Grendel had decided that nothing mattered but what he wanted; thus creating a world of complete chaos, which ultimately led to his downfall in the end.
Grendel lives his life trying to figure out who he is and what his purpose is supposed to be. In the beginning of the novel, he kills only for need, not for want however, when confronted by the Dragon's lecture about how Grendel should alone decide his own fate, he decides to become the sick monster he really is and makes daily raids to the meadhall at which Hrothgar rules at. When Grendel finally realizes that he is "invulnerable," he finds out that the Dragon has put a charm on him; he is free to do whatever he felt like because he is
"Grendel, Ruiner of Meadhalls, Wrecker of Kings!" (Gardner 80).
He had given up on the Shaper- to Grendel, the Shaper was no more than an idiotic preacher of false hope. He ensues into a world of chaos by launching raids on the innocent Danes. He devours Hrothgar's people without a single hint of remorse and finds out that he actually enjoys commiting sick crimes like that. As Grendel notes,
"It was as if [Grendel] had made some incredible discovery, like [Grendel's] discovery long ago of the moonlit world beyond the mere" (Gardner 80).
Before, contempt with the Shaper's beliefs of peace and good deed, Grendel is now possessed with the happiness of killing for purely no reason at all besides the fact that he finds it fascinating. His mind becomes sick and twisted, thus causing chaos throughout the entire novel.
Eventually, Grendel becomes a true monster with absolutely no hint of his past of good will and the Shaper's beliefs. He shows another act of chaos and cruelty during his encounter with the mountain goat. As mentioned by Grendel,
"[Grendel] smile[s], threatened by an animal already dead, still climbing. I snatch up a stone and hurt itThe air is sweet with the
scent of his blood" (Gardner 140).
Despite the fact that the goat is already injured and will die very soon, Grendel insists on killing him in the most gruesome way possible. He does not believe in just killing to protect; he believes in killing purely due to the fact that there is no one in his way to
stop him. Grendel even goes as far as to
"leap down to make sure [the goat] goes over," (Gardner 140).
Killing someone or something is only the first step for him, watching them suffer and struggle is the most interesting part for Grendel and he will go to any extent to see it happen. The Dragon's words are also constantly in the back of his head as well causing Grendel to feel, once again, as if everything he is doing will have no consequences.
Torture excites Grendel into sick and distorting ways; he is determined to stir up chaos at anytime with no repentance.
As confused as Grendel is in trying to figure out what his true principles are, he finally decides to continue on a path of evil and cruelty not caring to think about the effects his deeds has on others. The death and torture he inflicts between Hrothgar and the Danes causes much chaos leading, eventually, to Grendel's unfortunate death.
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