The Heavens and Destiny in Grendel
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 Gardner's 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. Grendel's 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 "
At the end of his life, Grendel "[looks] down past stars" and finds not light or meaning, but darkness. Every human has the same death-sentence, but whether a person views the journey towards the ultimate fate with hope, bitterness, or resignation is what truly matters. Hence, the descriptions of the heavens in Grendel reveal the submission many feel toward their fate. Beowulf is the light "from the east," and fate "spares" him in his encounter with Grendel (162). When the Shaper sings of Hrothgar's glory, Hrothgar's people wish to capture "the farthest stars" in his name and work for his glory, though they know their eventual destiny (43). Thus, the imagery of the sky mirrors the animosity Grendel feels to fate. Grendel experiences "rage" toward his destiny to be a monster that terrorizes the villagers, and the sun "blinds him" (14). Beowulf, while accepting his ultimate fate, death, also comprehends that the point of life is living, and he knows he should fight for beauty, truth, and justice no matter how vain his efforts are. However, the only character who is constantly associated with promising sky imagery is Beowulf. The dragon tells Grendel of when the universe will die, and there will be "no light" in the sky (71). She also embraces Hrothulf as a member of her household, though she knows that the ambitious boy, "quiet as the moon," will eventually overthrow her husband and sons (113). Even Grendel looks to the sky, "deliriously hopeful" (53). He realizes that those efforts make his life fruitful and worthwhile. He believes that the creation of the "sun and moon as lights to land-dwellers" is a "cold-blooded lie," because, if that is true, then he is destined to be a member of the "cursed race" (55).
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