A similar event happens when Grendel meets Unferth. Although Grendel's first judgment about the priests and the townspeople is very negative, Ork is able to prove himself an anomaly because he contains a certain amount of curiosity and fascination of the unknown. No one in the kingdom is convinced that the gods have life in them" (128). There is no conviction in the old priests' songs there is only showmanship. Upon initially viewing the priests Grendel comments, "The old peasant.whispers crossly: '.Religion is sick.' Which is true. The first of these characteristics and the most important is the curiosity that the two share. There is one thing that I believe gives Ork and Unferth the ability to talk to Grendel, one important characteristic that these characters share but is not evident in the rest of Hrothgar's kingdom.
This discussion causes me to believe that Unferth is not unique, and that the entire population of humans has the ability to talk to and understand Grendel but they will not due to their characteristics and attitudes. Ork, the priest, has a very long discussion about religion with Grendel when Grendel sits in the center of the ring of gods and pretends to be 'The Destroyer'. I would like to add that Unferth is not the only human that understands Grendel. Is it Unferth who is unique or Grendel who has changed?ĭoes Unferth's ability to understand Grendel contribute to the decision to spare Unferth? Why?Īnd, finally, does this encounter reveal about the nature of heroes (if anything)? While the exact meaning may not always come out clear, there is no doubt that the distance between Grendel and humanity has shrunk. Yet later, when Grendel faces off against Unferth for the first time, Unferth is able to understand Grendel's form of speech. An unfortunate, natural response of human xenophobia.
Essentially, an inability to communicate with our enemies leads to a reaction infused with violence. The encounter quickly spirals downwards until Grendel finds himself beset by "thinking creatures, pattern makers, the most dangerous things I'd ever met."(27). As much as Grendel tries to communicate with the humans, who are mistaking him for some type of spirit or god, they cannot understand him.
One of the first time Grendel ventures out into the world, he finds himself trapped in a tree surrounded by humans.
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