An Analysis of the Use of Imagery in John Gardner's Grendel Essay

In Julius Caesar, Shakespeare wrote, The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings. Humans constantly search for justification of their fate, whether in stars, tealeaves, or themselves. Likewise, in John Gardners Grendel, Grendel and others search both the sky and their hearts for meaning in their existence when mortality sentences them to death. The repeating images of sky in Grendel reveal that humanity has a constant struggle to find sense and reason in life when fate the ultimate driving force of the universe. Foremost, humans sometimes respond to the decisiveness of fate with spite and anger, and the repeated imagery of the sky reflects this attitude towards destiny. Grendels conversations with the sky betray his bitterness and frustration at his fate. He looks to the heavens for answers as to why his destiny is to be a monster, and the oblivious sky and witless moon present no justification for his bad fortune (79). Grendel simply wants to discern why he must live his life as an outcast rather than with someone to talk to, and when the stars offer no reply, their rudeness enrages him (53). He further reveals his abhorrence of his existence by making obscene and defiant gestures, but the sky remains forever unimpressed with the pain of being a monster (6). In addition, violent descriptions of the sun closely relate to Grendels animosity toward his own providence. Grendel experiences rage toward his destiny to be a monster that terrorizes the villagers, and the sun blinds him (14). Furthermore, the dragon instills a cynical and hateful attitude in Grendel, and Grendel feels himself fall toward a black sun, a fate to be a cruel monster (61). Moreover, Grendel feels hostile to people who find validation for their existence and destiny, and imagery of the sky accompanies this aggression. He believes that the creation of the sun and moon as lights to land-dwellers is...

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