The Existential Struggle: Gardner's Grendel Unveiling Nihilism

John Gardner's Grendel delves into the intricate realms of nihilism, existentialism, and various philosophical perspectives, providing readers with a profound exploration of the human condition. The protagonist, Grendel, embarks on a transformative journey of self-discovery, initially adopting existentialist ideologies, only to be confronted and ultimately disproven by the heroic figure of Beowulf. Gardner's narrative serves as a canvas for the clash between individuality and meaning against the backdrop of senseless violence and destruction. While the novel encompasses a plethora of philosophical themes, the most prominent are nihilism and existentialism.

The Existentialist Roots of Grendel

Upon leaving his mother's cave, Grendel is thrust into a perplexing world, prompting him to adopt existentialism as a defense mechanism against the chaos surrounding him. Initially bewildered, Grendel observes humans, attempting to decipher their shared language and thoughts. Witnessing the evolution of Hrothgar's kingdom, he perceives the relentless conquests and expansions that characterize human existence.

Chapter 5 introduces Grendel to nihilism through his encounter with the Dragon, an entity that claims knowledge of the entirety of time and space.

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The Dragon dismisses existentialism, asserting the meaninglessness of all things. Grendel, influenced by the Dragon's nihilistic perspective, embraces his destructive impulses, only to have his newfound nihilism challenged by the arrival of Beowulf.

Beowulf's Triumph Over Nihilism

Beowulf's arrival marks the pinnacle of nihilistic contradiction. While Grendel symbolizes senseless death and destruction, Beowulf embodies regeneration and goodness. Gardner, through Beowulf's teachings, counters both nihilism and existentialism, emphasizing the significance of virtues over the void of meaninglessness.

Beowulf imparts wisdom to Grendel, proclaiming that where there was once rigidity, life will flourish anew.

The hero's words echo the theme of regeneration and the cyclical nature of life, challenging the Dragon's nihilistic assertions. Gardner uses Beowulf as a conduit to convey the triumph of meaning and purpose over nihilistic despair.

The Evolutionary Path of Grendel and Hrothgar's Thanes

From his vantage point, Grendel observes the destructive path carved by Hrothgar and his men as they expand their power. The mead halls burn, kingdoms are conquered, and tribute is collected, establishing Hrothgar as a great king. However, Gardner introduces the influential role of the shaper, a poet who weaves a false narrative of glory, shaping the Thanes' perception of their own greatness.

The shaper's ability to craft a glorified past contributes to the Thanes' ascent to power. Even Grendel, by Chapter 4, succumbs to the allure of the shaper's lies, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. However, the shaper's death plunges the kingdom into sadness and decline. Without the lies of greatness, Hrothgar loses his status as a great king, and the Thanes face a period of stagnation.

Grendel's existential crisis becomes the focal point of Gardner's critique. Despite being the offspring of Cain, Grendel wrestles with the concept of free will and moral choice. His nihilistic revelations about the indifference of the universe serve as a feeble justification for his murderous actions. Grendel's denial of his potential for moral behavior underscores Gardner's exploration of existential loopholes, challenging Sartre's definition of consciousness as nothingness.

The Influence of the Shaper and the Decline of Hrothgar's Kingdom

In Chapter 4, the shaper arrives at Hrothgar's mead hall. Unlike other poets, the shaper is able to sing of a false past so gloriously as to have it be true. By doing this, he encourages the Thanes to live up to their false glory. Some may say that the shaper is solely responsible for the advancement of the Thanes into the great kingdom. Even Grendel is convinced that the lies the shaper sings of are true. This is evident when he says, "I knew them, had watched them; yet the things he said seemed true" (47).

The shaper embodies the summit of the Thane's greatness. His death later brings great sadness throughout the kingdom. "The people listen silent and solemn to the old shaper's song on the young man's lips" (147). Without the shaper to sing lies of his greatness, Hrothgar is no longer a great king. The Thanes have already conquered as much as they can, and the kingdom is now in a state of maintaining its power. Overall sadness at the death of the shaper, lack of motivation, and threats upon the throne drive the kingdom into a period of decline.

Hrothgar is no longer the proactive young king he used to be. Instead, "puffy-eyed, he gets up, and in a kind of stupor goes to the meadhall to piss" (136). In all of this, Grendel's bad-faith is the target of Gardner's polemic. Even if Grendel is the offspring of Cain, he continually reminds himself (not unlike the shaper) that he is free to change his behavior. But then again, he asks himself, why should he? On what grounds? So he knowingly denies his potential to choose moral behavior and continues to believe the fiction that he's a meaningless object.

His nihilistic revelations about the indifference of the universe and the relativity of values are nothing more than a feeble attempt to justify his role as a murderer. These ironic lines merely affirm the existence of the universe for-itself. When the forest echoes "why not?" (in other words, why not be good?), he hears his own repressed self. All in all, Grendel, the existentialist monster, is a brilliant vehicle for Gardner's dissection of the loopholes in Sartre's definition of consciousness as nothingness.

Conclusion: Virtue Triumphs Over Nihilism

In conclusion, John Gardner's Grendel serves as a profound exploration of philosophical concepts, with nihilism and existentialism taking center stage. The clash between Grendel's existentialist beginnings and Beowulf's triumphant refutation of nihilism highlights the novel's overarching theme – the triumph of virtue and meaning over the void of senselessness. Gardner weaves a complex narrative that challenges traditional philosophical notions, offering readers a thought-provoking journey through the depths of the human psyche.