Throughout Beowulf, Grendel goes on both a physical and mental journey. Grendel embarks upon a mental journey as his philosophy changes throughout the story. Grendel’s philosophical journey is greatly related to the cycles of astrology. From the beginning of the story to the last chapter Grendel’s belief’s about life, the humans, himself, and time change and become more enhanced. At the beginning of the epic Grendel is trying to discover who he is and what is the meaning of life. Grendel begins to travel around Herot and develop his language creating his own philosophy about life. In the end Grendel realizes the harsh realities of life.
The beginning of the epic starts with Grendel observing a ram (Aries and the Ram). He begins to develop his world-view. Grendel was aggravated at the Ram’s mindlessness and concludes that he is no better than the animal himself. At this point Grendel believes that the world and the way it works is pointless. Further into the story Grendel begins to think as if he was the only one who existed and mattered. When the Bull (Taurus the Bull) attacked Grendel, Grendel developed a thought that the world was nothing but forces pushing one another, chaos. At the end of chapter two he believes that he alone exists.
Chapter three is related to “Gemini the Twins”. In this chapter Grendel hear the Shaper’s song and his belief’s begin to change again. The Shaper’s words manipulate Grendel. In chapter three Grendel begins to think of the human’s violent nature remembering their wars. Later when he hears the shaper’s song his views are transformed and he begins to believe the shaper’s version of the human’s history. In chapter three the way Grendel views himself and the humans change.
In chapter four, “Cancer the Crab,” Grendel discovers from the Shaper that he is descended from Cain, a brother-murderer and the father of demons, and is brought into Old Testament theology and references. The Biblical story begins when Cain is angered by God’s rejection of his gift. After hearing god tell him that “sin is a demon crouching at the door. It shall be eager for you, and you will be mastered by it,” Cain kills his brother, Abel, and is cursed for eternity. Grendel is willing to go along with the Old Testament story of his being a demon and an evil monster, so long that he can be a part of the Anglo-Saxon society. He is a child of darkness amongst children of light and wants to be accepted into human life.
In chapters five and four Grendel comes to accept his role. Chapter four is related to “Cancer the Crab”. In this chapter Grendel discovered his origins from the Shaper’s songs. He learned that he had come from darkness. The Shaper’s song described him as evil and he was willing to accept that role just to be a part of their society. Chapter five is related “Leo the lion”. In this chapter Grendel’s philosophical views are affected dramatically by the dragon. In chapter five the dragon tells him that nothing has meaning and all things will pass and be forgotten in time. Grendel struggles to accept the dragon’s views but he does except that his role in the Anglo-Saxon society is to be their enemy. Grendel begins to view the world as having no meaning and him being able to anything he wants. There’s a constant battle in his mind between the Shaper’s views and the Dragon’s views.
In chapter six, “Virgo the Virgin,” skepticism is the philosophy that Grendel adopts. Basically, he becomes distrustful of the world. After meeting the Dragon, he believes the world is meaningless and that the Shaper is ignorant about life. Grendel stumbles over a dead man’s body, shocked that humans would murder each other in hatred. Also, while he accepts that other beings besides him exist, he has concluded that he cannot fit in with their society and that they are all his enemies. Up until now, Grendel has been trying to befriend the humans at Herot. However, after meeting the dragon and losing hope in the Shaper, he gives up hope on the humans and becomes a skeptic.
Chapter six is related to “Virgo the Virgin”. In this chapter Grendel begins to believe that the world has no meaning. His thoughts of the Shaper change drastically. Once convinced by his stories he now thinks that he is ignorant. He has excepted that he can’t fit into the Anglo-Saxon society and that they are his enemies. Grendel essential gives up hope on the humans. In chapter seven which is related to “Libra the Balance” , Grendel’s philosophical views are challenged once again. When Grendel observed Wealtheow he was touched by the kindness she showed. Wealtheow’s kindness tore at Grendel. He in the end decides to kill her but changes his mind.
In chapter eight which is related to the “Scorpio the Scorpion” Grendel’s view toward Hrothgar and the human’s systems become even more negative. In this chapter Grendel’s nephew come to live with him and begins to play a revolution because of the unfair government that he observes. By listening to Hrothful, Hrothgar’s plotting nephew, Grendel becomes more in dislike of the way the Anglo-Saxons live. In chapter nine which is related to “Sagittarius the Archer”, Grendel forms his final views about the Anglo-Saxon religion. In chapter nine Grendel convinces a blind priest that he is their god The Destroyer and observes their meaningless rituals. He realizes that their rituals are just acts that they perform. Little Anglo-Saxon people believe in the ancient religion. Grendel comes to the conclusion that they are blindly following ancient religions.
In chapter 10, “Capricorn the Great”, Grendel comes to believe that there is no longer any meaning, no morals, traditions, social values, political values, or religious values left. He believes that humans put their own meaning on things and therefore everybody’s values on different things are different. He believes that that the things that the human’s value has no meaning, except in their head. In this chapter Grendel was angered by a goat continually trying to climb up the side of the cliff. He is angered at the goat and throws rocks at it and splits its skull. At this point Grendel believes in nothing and is aggravated at of the Anglo-0Saxon mechanical way of life.
In the end of the story Grendel faces the harsh realities of life. When the Geats arrive he is happy that his boredom will be over. He looks forward to another chance to prove the human’s philosophies wrong. He believes that order doesn’t exist and one single act of violence can disrupt everything. In the end the Dragon’s philosophical views win.
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