Though deemed an evil monster by the humans, Grendel observes the sinister characteristic of humans through religion. They preach peace and prosperity yet their own practices disprove their principles. I

Within the realm of the novel, Grendel?s critical attitude toward religion is an attempt to prove that Hrothgar?s kingdom is overtly hypocritical and selfish. In a larger sense, however, the novel implies that humanity should be wary of its actions and statements. Too oftentimes, people adorn themselves to a religion unconditionally, yet we must first ask if we are acting what we are preaching, for only then will religion fulfill its true rejuvenating purpose.

In addition, the atrocity of these actions is perpetuated by the fact that the priests think highly of their hypocritical position, yet the villagers are completely indifferent. When Grendel wrecked the sacred images of the Scyldings? gods, ?no one was especially bothered? (128). Only the priests, however, ?lamented and tore their hair?as fraught and rhetorical as they were when they prayed? (129). Also, at the Shaper?s funeral, ?the priests [walked] slowly around the pyre, saying antique prayers,? but the crowd, ?all in black, [ignored] the black priests? (149). The villagers see the irony in their religious leaders, and they are wise enough to realize that the apparent contrast between good and evil that the priests emphasize is tainted by the evil nature of the ?good? priests. Furthermore, in the wintertime, ?only the deepest religion can break t

Some topics in this essay:
Gardners Grendel, Ork Grendels, , Destroyer Instead, Scyldings Hrothgars, hrothgars kingdom, evil nature priests, gods especially, scyldings gods especially, evil nature, nature priests, scyldings gods, religion completely, throughout novel, 128 priests, larger sense, presence gods,