Afternoon of Alterity - Nazareth College

is clear that they are monsters and not heroes. Farrell describes that“Grendel encompasses all the traits that Early Middle Age Christiansbelieved that the devil had” (Farrell, 936). This line furthers the beliefthat killers of multiple victims during medieval times were just that,murderers. Jennifer Farrell makes this point when she says, “in thisChristian poem the evil source cannot be complicated because thehero/villain good/evil dichotomy must be absolute” (937). Grendel’smother is even more dangerous than Grendel to the Danes becauseshe is a “warrior on par with Beowulf himself” (Hennequin, 507).To Christians, Grendel’s mother is the worst kind of killer because“she crosses gender lines to participate in the masculine realm andcan actually challenge Beowulf” (510). Their strength and lack ofhuman qualities makes them very hard to identify with and veryscary to society. In Liuzza’s a clearly demonic Grendel is describedas evil who,“saw many men in the mansion, sleeping, a ranked companyof kinsmen and warriors quartered together. And his gleewas demonic, picturing the mayhem: before morning hewould rip life from limb and devour them, feed on theirflesh” (Liuzza, lines 723-733).Farrell notes that “the poet’s intentions are to posit Grendel as theevil predator of Hrothgar’s innocent people. He bears the curse ofCain, which likens him to a brother killer” (Farrell, 936). Grendel’srelation to Cain only furthers his demonic nature. It is very clearthat his relation to Cain is not supposed to be a point of fascination,but a reason to really fear him and see him as a monster. Grendel’sactions and his mother’s are viewed as monstrous. Their killings arenot viewed as justifiable or fascinating. Grendel’s mother’s strengthis not looked at positively; rather it is seen as a prime reason why sheis pure evil.emily mastrobattisto 71