Nature or Nurture?

The book “Grendel” by John Gardner and the poem “Beowulf” were assigned
to me as a summer reading assignment for the high school freshman English honors class. I didn’t think that I would enjoy them at all but I ended up really liking the story of Beowulf and then the perspective through Grendel even more. When I read “Beowulf,” I thought of the main character as a hero who puts his life in danger to save others. However, after reading the book “Grendel” my perspective changed completely; and his true colors were highlighted. Beowulf believes he needs to kill Grendel and then later Grendel’s mother to protect his people. Grendel is young, naïve and uneducated on morals, so didn’t know he was doing wrong. Grendel’s mother was simply a broken mother full of vengeance. Her violence was fueled by the pain inflected by Beowulf’s cruel killing of her son. I saw through Grendel’s unintentional violent acts and saw the underscored theme of loneliness and the innocence of being misunderstood.

Are we all born innocent? Does our environment form us to be who we are or are we programmed before birth? Is it our DNA? The question of the Ages is nature or nurture? Someone who grew up in a non-healthy household may have blurred views on morality. They are taught the wrong things subconsciously by taking in habits of a toxic environment. This is what creates anti-heros. An anti-hero challenges traditional notions of morality and heroism, blurring the lines between good and evil while captivating audiences with their complex motivations and flawed humanity. Although in the century’s old poem Beowulf, Grendel is seen as a villain through and through, in the novel Grendel, by John Gardner, however we can see that Grendel is not an evil being at heart because of his childhood trauma, sensitive heart/empathy, and self-control.

Grendel’s childhood trauma significantly shaped his perspective on humans and contributed to his defensive attitude toward them. When Grendel was a young creature, he experienced a traumatic encounter with humans who attacked him while he was stuck in a tree:

“Surround him! The King yelled… And suddenly I knew I was dealing with no dull mechanical bull, but with thinking creatures, pattern makers, the most dangerous things I have ever met… Darts like hot coals went through my legs and arms. I howled louder.”

This moment is pivotal for several reasons. This attack marks Grendel’s first direct experience with humans, instilling a deep sense of fear and confusion. He realizes that these beings who he had maybe viewed with curiosity or innocence can be violent and aggressive. This encounter destroys any innocent notions he may have about coexistence, pushing him into a state of isolation. The brutal nature of the human attack teaches Grendel that violence is a core aspect of their interactions. This realization leads him to view humans as threats, creating a defensive tone when around them. The trauma creates a lens through which he interprets all future interactions with humans, leading to a cycle of fear and aggression. Our brains are wired for connection, but trauma rewires them for protection. Point being, maybe if this attack never happened, he wouldn’t be the hostile, defensive creature he evolved to be. He was not born an evil monster.

Though Grendel often feels antagonistic towards humans, his understanding of the world as chaotic and hostile suggests that he recognizes the struggle of others, and he is in fact not devoid of empathy. There is a moment that shows Grendel’s empathy when he encounters the dying Ram: “I understand that the world was nothing, a mechanical chaos of casual, brute enmity on which we stupidly impose our hopes and fears. I understood that, finally and absolutely, I alone exist. All the rest, I saw, as merely what pushes me, or what I push against, blindly – as blindly as all that is not myself pushes back. I create the whole universe, blink by blink. An ugly God pitiful dying in a tree.”

Grendel’s thought that “I alone exist” highlights a very high sense of isolation and loneliness. This feeling of being alone in a scary place can evoke empathy from readers, as it resonates with a common aspect of the human experience, feeling disconnected or isolated from the world in others. This sensitivity in being an outsider is shown various times throughout the book. In addition, the expression “an ugly God pitiful dying in a tree!” conveys a sense of tragic self-awareness. It reflects Grendel’s struggle with his identity and the nature of his existence. This phrase is actually Grendel being vulnerable. He reveals he thinks about his own flaws, further emphasizing his sensitivity and emotional depth. Combining Grendel’s loneliness of being an outsider and his insecurity, he subconsciously holds a weight of existence and responsibility. Meaning he feels the need to impose meaning on a chaotic world, a desire to find purpose and understanding. This desire can show his sensitive nature, since he seeks to make sense of his experiences and surroundings.

Grendel is very self reflective, and understands his strength; his control over it challenges traditional notions of evil. Grendel’s self-control suggests a deeper philosophical understanding rather than pure malice: “my enemies define themselves on me. As for myself, I could finish them off in a single night, pull down the great carved beams and crush them in the Mead hall, along with their mice, their tankards, and potatoes. Yet I hold back. I am hardly blind to the absurdity. Form is function.” Grendel has a level of self observation of his own mental and emotional processes that go beyond simple instinctual violence. He recognizes that his enemies define themselves in opposition to him, implying that he understands the dynamics of their conflict. This awareness indicates a level of self control that is often absent in characters typically labeled as evil. Grendel acknowledges his ability to destroy his enemies effortlessly, yet he chooses to hold back.

This restraint highlights his self-control and suggests a conscious decision to refrain from unleashing his full power. Rather than acting on impulse, Grendel is showing that he is not a mindless monster but capable of making choices. When Grendel states “form is function” it implies that he sees a connection between the nature of beings and the roles in the world. “Form is function” is a phrase that emphasizes functionality over status, meaning the shape of an object should primarily reflect its purpose. In this case form, being the living being, and function which is a role or purpose. Grendel understands everything is connected and the cycles of life. He perceives the interconnectedness of life, rather than simply viewing his enemies as objects to be destroyed, he recognizes that his actions have consequences and he is part of a larger narrative/plan. This choice to refrain from violence points to a moral complexity of his character. By choosing not to act on his impulses, he demonstrates a capacity for moral decision making. Reading between the lines, a person can reconsider the nature of evil and the motivations behind Grendel’s actions, suggesting that he is not inherently “evil” but rather a struggling and nuanced character navigating his own existence.

Some may argue Grendel is a villain because of his hostile behavior. It is true that Grendel is known to be aggressive, it is also true that he has killed many times. An example of this is when he was attacked by drunk men: “I struck at them, holding the body as a shield, and the two fell bleeding from my nails at the first swipe. The others backed off. I crushed the body in my hug, then hurled it in their faces, turned, and fled.” Yes, his response to being attacked was incredibly aggressive (as well as smart). However this does prove that Grendel is only murderous when necessary. He pleaded to the drunk men that he was a friend, but they didn’t understand and attacked anyway. So even though Grendel can be a little destructive and threatening, he is still just hurt and not evil at heart.

Clearly, Grendel is not a villain. Overall Grendel’s complexity as a character, reflections revealing a sensitive heart, and control over power shows that he is not the simplistic notion of evil. He has an understanding of himself and the world around him which shows his empathy, making him a more relatable and tragic figure. A person’s environment, upbringing, and life experiences determine their behavior. Traumatic experiences alter brain chemistry, and we are “nurtured” to behave in certain ways. No one is born a monster. G&S