Afternoon of Alterity - Nazareth College

his arm. As for Bjorn and Gunnar, they forsook both theirlair and their life in short order. (Byock 207)Grettir makes one last fatal attempt to claim an identity throughphysical space, yet society will not let Grettir gain an identity. Theold lady becomes symbolic of the society preventing Grettir fromreclaiming an identity. Grettir begins to realize the transparencyof his connection to Drangey Island “after the old woman put thespell on the tree” (Byock 205). This enchantment prevents Grettirfrom being able to make a connection between Drangey Island andthe idea of home. The spell ultimately leads to the destruction ofGrettir. The spell takes away any chance that Grettir had at gainingan identity through death. Grettir dies without a true physical homeand without a true identity.In the medieval text, Beowulf, the idea of space is clearlydifferentiated between the human physical space and the monstrousphysical space. The physical space separates the men from themonstrous. The separation of space allows the men to give themselvesidentity. The men place much importance on physical space,because they believe that it clearly defines who they are as men. Thephysical space allows the men to be able to clearly label themselvesas not the monstrous. The physical space allows the men to createborders and boundaries to protect their home and identity. Yet, thislife of comfort experiences an irruption. The men experience aninterruption of their physical space through the monster, Grendel.The invasion of the monstrous space into the physical human spacecauses a confusion of identity. Thus, the men experience an identitycrisis from the presence of a monster within their physical territory.In the text, Beowulf, a clear separation exists between humanphysical space and monstrous physical space. The humans reside ina physical space, the mead hall. The men build, hunt, fight, andfeast as part of their identity as humans. They pride themselves on144 afternoons of alterity