Theme Of Isolation In Grendel

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Grendels Isolation Turns Him Evil Everybody suffers from loneliness at least once in his or her lifetime. In John Gardner's novel Grendel, the monster suffers from isolation. Grendel feels remoteness after his encounters with the humans, the bull, and the dragon. Through these examples, Gardner demonstrates how isolation can lead an individual to becoming evil. Being separated from someone you would like to converse with could lead you to becoming an isolated evil monster. Grendel eventually turns evil after numerous attempts of building a friendship with the humans. After awhile "he had become something as if born again…I was Grendel, ruiner of meadhalls, wrecker of kings. But also, as never before, I was alone.P.80" Grendel bites the guard's head off…show more content…
The dragon's advice also contributes to Grendel's isolation. The Dragon told Grendel that he "knows how they feel when they see [him]. P.59" The Dragon was telling him exactly how mankind sees him. Grendel realizes that the Dragon is right as he sees that he will forever be lonely. However, when advice is given to you, it's up to you whether you keep it or leave it. The dragons advice to his "violent friend, is to seek out gold and sit on it. P.74" The Dragons advice basically means that there is no purpose in life, and that Grendel his own purpose in life. Grendel does exactly that, which forces him to becoming more evil than ever. When the monster is even more evil, we witness him attacking the meadhall and killing one of the geats while they were sleeping. In addition to that, he thinks more about how isolated he is from everyone else when he enters this evil stage. At this point he doesn't care anymore. After hearing the Dragon's advice, he feels as if everyone will die, and everything will turn into dust and we will all be forgotten over the years. Therefore go after what makes you happy in life and sit on
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