Intolerance in Grendel

Grendel: Intolerance

In the novel "Grendel" by John Gardner, there is a constant theme of intolerance, which fuels the stories plot, conflict, climax, and resolution. Without the intolerance displayed by the characters, there would be no story to tell. Grendel and the humans portray the most intolerance towards each other, because both are so different from what they themselves know. Fear is caused by things that we do not understand, and this is the only reason that the humans despised Grendel. Because of this fear towards Grendel, he reacts in a way to the humans to give them something to really cry about.

Intolerance was displayed within the first twenty-four pages of the novel, and continues through-out the whole thing. Grendel first encounters the humans when he gets stuck in the tree on page 18, "One morning I caught my foot in the crack where two old tree trunks joined. "Owp!" I yelled. "Mama! Waa!". The humans find Grendel and are oblivious to what he is and why he is in the tree. They think that he is a beastlike fungus, and soon think he is a spirit. "The tall one said, "It's a growth of some kind, that's my opinion. Some beastlike fungus." (page 24) "I don’t know. Could be it's some kind of a oak tree spirit. Better not mess with it." (page 25) Soon after this discussion of what Grendel really is, they feel that they have angered this "spirit", become startled, and react in a violent manner. "Surround him!" the king yelled, "Save the horses!" (page 27) The humans attack Grendel, "Darts like hot coal went through my legs and arms and I howled more loudly still." (page 27) This act of intolerance towards Grendel sparks the on going drama of the whole story. It is this act of fear and hate, that fuels Grendels hatred/amusement of the humans.

The Humorous, Clever, and Twisted views of the dragon begin to unwind on page 58 when Grendel first encounters him. Upon meeting the dragon, Grendel is given a new outlook on life and a new courage/power to...