The answer to the question is left to be open ended... no one knows exactly why he is evil. but john gardner does a great job of giving the reader options. and lets face it, in America, we like our options.
possiable Reason number 1.
Nothing comes from nothing - Grendel in essences learned to be evil from the society in which he lived
Good vs. Evil - purely there is a deeper symbolizism. Grendel = evil/the devil, bouwolf = god/good
the lis continues
Beowulf discovers not just one, but three evil forces. He discovers the monster Grendel, a dragon, and Grendel's mother.
Grendel is descended from Cain because they are both evil. Cain, brother of Able was the first "evil" person. He killed his brother which led God to banish him, just as Grendel was banished by God. Cain was banished and decided to "build up" his forces such as ogres, elves, phantoms, and giants. Grendel is kind of a giant and ogre combined. In conclusion, Cain is wicked freakin' evil and they wanted to show a connection between him and Grendel to show just how evil Grandel was.
Ork believes that evil is a force that drives Grendel's actions, leading him to commit violent acts. He sees evil as an inherent part of Grendel's nature, which ultimately shapes his perception of the world and influences his behavior. Ork believes that evil is a powerful and destructive force that is difficult to understand or control.
evil.
Good vs. Evil
Grendel and his mother represent evil for the Anglo-Saxons. They come at night when all the evil of the world is said to be free to roam the land.
Grendel and his mother represent evil for the Anglo-Saxons. They come at night when all the evil of the world is said to be free to roam the land.
Beowulf symbolizes heroism, bravery, and loyalty, while Grendel represents chaos, darkness, and evil. Their conflict represents the eternal struggle between good and evil.
It could symbolize good and evil
Grendel is considered the shepherd of evil in Beowulf. He is a monstrous creature descended from Cain who terrorizes the people of Heorot, a mead hall in Denmark, by killing and feasting on its inhabitants.
The novel Grendel actually makes Humans seem like the bad guys. Going from Beowulf, where Grendel was hated beyond comprehension and for what seemed like good reason has been explained and even turned upside down by John Gardner and to that I say bravo!
In the epic poem "Beowulf," Grendel is described as a descendant of Cain, cursed by God and condemned to roam the land as a creature of darkness and evil. This origin story draws on Christian beliefs and serves to emphasize Grendel's monstrous nature and the contrast between good and evil in the poem.