Gardner used Grendel as the narrator of “Grendel” because he represents the viewpoints of the Anglo-Saxon society. Grendel represents the critical points of human ideas and values because he has observed them. Gardner most likely chose to use Grendel as a narrator because he the human subconscious. He is always observing behavior and society even if he is not the one actually experiencing it. His status as a monster sets him opposed to human society, but also means that human concepts are new to him. Grendel’s status defines the brutality of humans or the undeveloped primitive human who has not accepted human concepts. Grendel is in constant conflict as his opinions change and evolves throughout the story. He liked poetry in the beginning, but as his ideals and concepts began to evolve he rejected religion and government, as well as several of the philosophies he encountered. Grendel eventually evolved in chapters 7 and 8. By chapter 8, he develops a distinct and more advanced style of narrating and text. He compares humans to animals. For example he uses the metaphor of a deer to compare to humans because “the deer sees life without observing it” (8).Grendel is the subconscious of humanity constantly observing life. Grendel as a monster allows him to provide a critique of human society and ideas that otherwise would not be seriously considered or thought of. Grendel is the observer of the human nature that humans define as right; the fact that he is a monster only provides a different side or questions what humans consider normal.
