the texts that was forsaken to encourage appeasement amongst feuding courts. Queen Hygd was offered to Hygelac under very similar circumstances as told in Beowulf, and portrayed the same role in Hygelac's kingdom. There is reference in both texts concerning this tradition, and it is evident to the reader that this is not an unusual Anglo-Saxon custom. The lust for Wealhtheow did not stop with Unferth. Perhaps the most significant difference in the two texts is that in Grendel, the monster, was attracted to Wealhtheow. There is no suggestion in Beowulf that Grendel posses any feelings toward the humans. The desire for Wealhtheow gives the reader better insight into Grendel's character. Up until this point the reader was given no hint that Grendel possessed anything except hatred toward the human race. Grendel was touched the first time he saw Wealhtheow, he was struck by her innocence and beauty. He wanted to sob at the sight of her; the reader had never been introduced to this sensitive side of the monster. The reader wasn't the only one who had a problem understanding Grendel's feelings, Grendel couldn't understand them either. He was tortured by the red of her hair and the set of her chin and the white of her shoulders. There is definitely a sexual overtone in Grendel's desire for Wealththeow. Upon his attack of her he ripped her out of bed by her feet as if he was going to split her in half. He wanted to kill her but he was torn by his feeling for her, all the pain he wanted to inflict was sexual. His motive for ki
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