Gardner’s perspective of the monster makes the reader question the Anglo-Saxon concept of good verses evil that is presented in Beowulf. For instance, the Shaper states, “The incitement to violence depends upon total transvaluation of the ordinary values. By a single stroke, the most criminal acts may be converted to heroic and meritorious deeds." (Gardner 117). Meaning, that the only difference between acts of violence and heroic deeds is a matter of who commits them, and what might be appropriate for a king would be unheard of by a peasant. This view makes one consider just how heroic the “hero’s” actions are. In Beowulf, Grendel is placed in a Biblical lineage of evil going back to the story of Cain and the first murder. The people all saw Grendel as an evil that was out to destroy all mankind. The society stereotyped him, and ironically, another character fit the description of Cain better than Grendel. Unferth, who was responsible for the death of his brother, should have be the one to be to be condemned. Grendel tried to fit in with society, but was rejected, so he turned to violence in response to society's hatred of him.
Grendel not only changes the perspective of the Anglo-Saxon view of good and evil, it also alters the reader’s view of Beowulf as an ideal hero.
Grendel has all the traits of a human, but is an outcast. Grendel is truly a man in beast's clothing, he has a heart and soul, but will never be accepted by society. He is burdened with the human desire to know all. It is a deep and sad story about the search for truth and answers to the unknown. Beowulf is a tale about a hero which has been passed on for centuries. It is simple because Beowulf is so completely admirable that his character is almost totally unrealistic. Beowulf has no faults except old age, which something he cannot avoid but still handles with grace. Grendel, on the other hand is a more believable and realistic character. He has a conscience and makes mistakes, just like any other man. Beowulf lacks this quality and becomes unrealistic to the reader because he is faultless. When both stories are examined in this light, we see that Grendel is a man, and Beowulf is a god.
In numerous ways Beowulf and Grendel are very similar, but yet at the same time they are so incredibly different. Perhaps John Gardner’s reason for writing Grendel was to provide a more roundabout view of the story; one that was not so biased and limited to Beowulf’s perfection. By turning the tables and providing a new point of view Gardner proved that the plot and setting are not the only important factors that make up a story.
