Trace Grendel’s philosophical journey in Gardner’s Grendel using the cycle of astrology for clues. End this response by stating Grendel’s evolved philosophy.
He views everything as a creation of his own existence as he is the only real thing. Everything else “sees all life without observing it” especially humans (Gardner 8). He concludes this after a fatal encounter with the Ram which is tied to the sign Aries. Grendel time and time again throughout the chapters confesses his dislike of humans. Through Grendel’s understanding of Solipsism he rejects all other philosophies because he is still in his transition stage. This philosophy is primarily based on his observations as a child, in which he explored his home and eventually the world from a distance. One encounter with a bull confirms his philosophy that “I alone exist” (Gardner 22).
He retains his philosophy of his existence is the only real existence through several of the chapters. Grendel later encounters the philosophies of the dragon and the poet. In chapter 5 he is introduced to the dragon’s nihilism. The dragon conveys to Grendel that nothing really exists and all existence is generally meaningless. Grendel begins to believe a slightly less extreme form of the philosophy. Grendel eventually returns to his own philosophies at the end of chapter 6. Grendel seems convinced that “nothing comes from nothing” and that everything is the result of himself (Gardner 150). Grendel’s philosophical beliefs mimic that of a circle or the circular pattern of astrology because eventually Grendel returns to his originally belief of Solipsism.
