Portrait of a MonsterSeptember 29, 1986Copyright © 1997 Property of Deborah K. Fletcher. All rights reserved.
Grendel was of the issue of Cain, conceived in the slime which begat the multitudes of spirits, fiends, goblins, monsters, and giants. he dwelled in an earthly hell among the wild marshes of the moor. Grendel was formed in the shape of men, save that his features were grotesque, his evilly scaled skin tough and hard. Hard-forged iron could make no mark upon his body, and his great arms could hold a score or more of warriors. His great claws rent and tore at the bodies of those whom he left behind, leaving a trail of blood away from Herot. the hands which bore the claws were as hard as steel, so that not even the sharpest sword could cut them. Grendel's skin was mottled in shades of slimy brown and green. His claws were dyed forever a dark red from the blood of men. His eyes were large and black, adapted to the murky darkness of the marsh. His face was pock-marked, and scarred by the evil serpents which inhabited his pond. His hair was a slimy mimicry of men's hair, the dark brown, weedy strands matted to his head, or hanging in limp tendrils about his scarred face and scaled body. The hair gave him an appearance of being draped in marsh weeds, giving men's hearts more reason to fear him. His huge teeth, with which he did so much killing, were stained likewise to the claws, the blood color having been absorbed into the very heart of each tooth so that it had become indelible. Grendel's mind seethed with bitter evil, remembering the banishment of Cain by the Almighty God after the foul murder of Abel. He shared the savage, murderous lust for violent death which was felt by all the children of Cain. Never could murder be enough to quench his demonic lust for evil carnage. He fought the servants of the Almighty Lord of all, spreading fear to conquer righteousness. Grendel's reign of Hell-spawned terror lasted for twelve years upon the people of Denmark. He killed as often as he could, savagely murdering young warriors and old alike, taking no offering of peace or truce from the terror-ridden people of the kingdom. Grendel thrived on the fear of men. His horrible visitations were strengthened by their terror. Without fear, he could do nothing to harm man. When he met Beowulf, he knew for the first time that he was not invincible. He was afraid, and his fear made him weak. He was overwrought with cowardice when he found himself faced with an adversary equal to himself. The guardian shepard of evil crimes found himself faced with the same Good which had first banished his Godless ancestor from the gardens of Paradise, and he was afraid. In Grendel's confrontation with Beowulf, evil confronted good, and the good triumphed. Grendel shrieked and cried in agony, furious at his defeat, yet powerless to save himself. All of his iron strength was taken from him, and he was beaten. Grendel's psychological condition caused his physical appearance. His malice and ill-will, inherited from his ancestors, caused the misshapen body, the huge arms, the clawed hands. His fear of the light, which caused him to hunt only when men slept, gave him his fearsome appearance. In all, Grendel was an evil creature whose deformed appearance added to the evil which he visited upon men, by casting fear into their hearts while his teeth and claws attacked their bodies. Please View and Sign My Guestbook © 1998-2000 Debbie Fletcher, joiya@tcia.net
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