Grendal and Existentialism Essay Example for Free

Grendal and Existentialism EssayGardner chose to display the philosophical idea of existentialism in his novel, Grendel. Grendel, the main character, shows proof of supporting these ideas. Existentialism related to the basic idea of personism, in which each individual is an isolated being excessively which is cast into an alien universe. In this literary theory, it is believed that the world possesses no essential human truth, value or nub. Existentialists believe that there is no god and no heaven, and Gardner uses this belief in his novel They sense that, of course, from time to time possess uneasy feelings that all they live by is nonsense. They have dim apprehensions that such propositions as God does not exist are somewhat dubious at least in comparison with state custodyts like All carnivorous cows eat meat. (pg 64-65) Observing from a different viewpoint, this realm of thought gives individuals freedom to do as they please, without possessing any external pressures. In a world without sense, all choices are possible. One has the freedom to make each decision based on ones own personal code of ethics and commitment to ones self, as opposed to being s counseled by societal pressures or religious beliefs.This principle gives hatful sovereignty it makes people happy knowing they have no responsibilities in carriage. Grendel views the world as an open space of nullity to which he entered, to which the nothingness where it must end. He comes to the realization that his own, along with every other individuals existence is only when just a flash in time, in a billion billion billion years, everything go out have come and gone several times, in various forms (page70).He possesses the belief that all men are mechanical. He is given the opportunity to observe and study them, introducing him to the idea of conformity, with the desire that he too can find meaning in this world. At the beginning of the novel Grendel demonstrates pure innocence. With the story of his counterbalance encounter with men, after getting his foot stuck in a crack where two old manoeuvre trunks joined he yells Mama Waa Waa , with an urgent need to define things and find a meaning for himself.But as the novel progresses, Grendel turns into a monster and taking up the ideas that the world is nothing a mechanical chaos of casual, brute enmity on which we stupidly impose our hopes and fears (21-22). It is because of events like this that Grendel started to take existential philosopher views on the world, then when he met the dragon these beliefs started to enhance. When the dragon enters the plot, he convinces Grendel to attack King Hrothgars Mead Hall, in hopes of possessing a purpose and fitting into the world, allowing him to temporarily exist with mankind.Following the incident, he continues to possess the ability to mobilize for himself, he detaches his thoughts from his previous decisions to view the situation objectively. In doing so he comes to the realization that he impart never mesh with this world lie withly and feels trapped and empty, like a monster with visions of himself killing the men. attempt to keep his own sanity, Grendel comes to the realization he cannot continue to live his life this way, realizing he is in complete isolation.It is not until his depression, that he comes to the realization he does not want to live the life of a monster, qualification the decision to refuse to kill Unferth as well as Wealtheow, realizing it had no purpose, going against his previous role, with undischarged desire to give his life meaning. However, it is not until he, the unstoppable monster, surrenders to Beowulf, allowing him to rip his arm from his socket, giving in to his design, when he is able to attain true happiness. Grendels desire for meaning goes against all beliefs of existentialism.From the beginning of the novel, to the essence, and all the way to the end, we see Grendel go through many different changes. The reason he is an existentialist in the middle of the novel is because he kills with no meaning. There is no purpose for his kills he is just confused with life and does what others tell him, which is to kill. Finally when Grendel starts thinking for himself he realizes that there is no purpose to killing, this is when he finally decides he does not want to be a monster. A true monster finds joy out of his kills and thinks of it as a victory, which is what truly proves Grendel is not a monster.