Grendel's Mother In 'Beowulf': The Dangerous Woman

Another part of the text which is evidence to Grendel not being the monster he is made out to be, is the relationship dynamic between Grendel and his mother, and also his mother’s actions after his death. The actions of Grendel’s mother are not those of a monster, but those of any normal woman who has children. After her son was killed (murdered and then part of his body was taken as a trophy), she just wanted to seek revenge. “But now his mother/ had sailed forth on a savage journey,/grief-racked and ravenous, desperate for revenge.” (1276-1278). Grendel’s mother displayed the emotions of complete sadness and despair over her son; it seems more of a human response rather than that belonging to a monster. Considering that the bond of a mother and son is supposed to be the strongest bond of all, her actions after his death are in a way justified. It is easy to see that the character of Grendel is much more than just a monster through his mother’s subsequent actions of taking down Grendel’s arm from hanging in Heorot, and feuding (in her own way she was trying to feud, to obey the code as it was in this time. When she went to Heorot to seek her revenge, she did not

During the period when Grendel was young, he was very innocent. Grendel would play above ground in his newly discovered world, and he would explore. At this time in his life Grendel seemed closer to his mother than as he grew older. This was a time before Grendel had any real evil in his heart. I believe the start of Grendel’s evilness was caused by his fight with a bull leading to his first encounter with humans. Grendel was trapped between trees while wild bull was rampaging beneath him. At that moment Grendel said, “I understood that the

Grendel's Mother - She is a woman with character. She is a beast with claws who fights pretty well. She is vicious and ill-tempered. All she wants is to avenge the death of her son killed by Beowulf. Sometimes she is called a Troll-wife. She dwells at the bottom of a mere in a cave.

Grendel’s mother is portrayed in a negative and objectified image. First, she has a sexual appeal. Grendel’s mom wears no clothes; her skin is gold, which covers her body. She is half woman and half monster. She has a promiscuous look that draws in attention from the opposite sex. In addition, she has a sexual attitude. Right when Beowulf enters the

“[Grendel’s] mother had sallied forth on a savage journey,/ grief-racked and ravenous, desperate for revenge” (Beowulf, 1276-1278). Her desire to avenge her son is carried out, but it ultimately leads to her death. Beowulf’s desire to garner fame and respect overpowers all of the raw emotion and anger felt by Grendel’s mother. She serves the purpose of showing the purest form of revenge, and how its blindness can lead to one’s demise.

The battle between Beowulf and Grendel's mother has its similarities and differences as well. Throughout the movie, clues are given about Grendel’s mother when encountering mysterious hands breaching the water while

When Grendel's mother arrives to torment the Danes, seeking vengeance for her son’s death, Beowulf’s fight with Grendel's mother

Grendel is very faithful to his mother, he trusts her all the time. Whenever he is in a dangerous situation or he feels pain he will scream out “Mama, Mama”(Gardner 173). “A shriek ten times as loud as mine came blaring off the cliff...It was my mother!...She came roaring down like thunder”(Gardner 27). It is not just a call sometimes it will come in handy and she will save him.

Beowulf sets his sights towards Grendel 's mother shortly after the second attack on Heorot. Grendel 's mother is similarly linked to Cain just as her son was. According to the selection, it is said that after Cain was cast away by God, his mark of murder followed him. Everywhere Cain walked, monsters and shadows arose from the ground in which Grendel 's mother is a result of. It is interesting to note that the story of Beowulf effortlessly contorted the Christian story of Cain by adding Pagan influences such as monsters. Nonetheless, like previous battles, the fight against Grendel 's mother was a result of vengeance. Grendel 's mother lived miserably in dark, monster infested waters, but caused no harm until the death of her son whom she was obligated to avenge.

In addition, Grendel’s mother plays a big role in the novel and the relationship between Grendel and her seems complicated. In Grendel, Grendel calls his mother mean names such as fat, but Grendel does love his mother. The only reason why he can not show her any affection, she does not speak the same language he does. This explains why she stared into his soul at often times because it was her way of showing him affection. She would also do things like smother him in her and although he did not like it, he took it because he knew this was one of her few ways of showing him she loved him.

Grendel's mother- Upon research, Anglo-Saxon women were peacemakers. His mother is the complete opposite of this, as she is highly vicious and wishes for revenge on Beowulf because of the death of her son. She wants to regain his glory and get his arm back as some sort of trophy. She holds quite a grudge, which is frowned upon with Anglo-Saxon women.

Grendel’s mother: Griselda, I cannot imagine how hard it must be for you. You are having a tough time because of your husband! How dare he makes you naked in front of everyone and ride horse as a test? Although it is a test to make sure you are a righteous woman, but it is a shame to treat you like that. I know Hrothgar 's queen is the one every man thinks of righteous and beautiful, I do not think she has any autonomy! Hildeburh, daughter of the Danish king Hoc also did not do anything but mourn when she her son and brother were “killed in the first battle with [her husband]” (1259). I understand that they had to be submissive and be quiet for if they refuse to offer themselves as a pleasing gift of men, they will be treated like Great Queen Modthryth who punished a man if he ever look her in the face (1279). Still, it is not a tolerable behavior of him to see you low because of your class. Why were you so silent? I heard that he killed your children, and still you were silent? I revenged since I could not stand Beowulf, and that made me feel better even though I failed.

In the poem Beowulf, the most evident theme is the importance of the Germanic heroic code. The heroic code was what made Beowulf so famous and god-like during his renowned life. The code is displayed in the opening lines of the poem and continued to show up throughout the duration of the poem. Heroism is often painted with a protagonist, which causes some acts of heroism to be overlooked when an antagonist follows the heroic code. Throughout the poem, there are many acts of heroism displayed, but many people overlook the way that Grendel’s mother followed the Germanic heroic code. Grendel’s mother follows the Germanic heroic code by showing courage, strength, and honor as Beowulf does throughout the poem, something that is frowned upon in the Anglo-Saxon culture.

Grendel and his mother really have no relationship throughout the story. Grendel tries multiple times to speak with his mother but she only make noises. Grendel has the mind of a human even though he is a monster but his mother has the mind of animal. “ ‘Why are we here? I use to ask her. “Why do we stand this putrid, stinking hole?” She trembles at my words. Her fat lips shake. “Don’t ask!” her

Grendel's Mother, then, appears as the face of vengefulness. This fault is not so common a powerful occurrence as guilt; emerging only when faced with grief and loss and the desire for retribution. Grendel's Mother is described as having “scavenged and gone her