Nihilism in Grendel
Grendel John Gardner explores several different philosophies in the novel Grendel. ... As Grendel’s existential views change, Gardner argues through Grendel that existence is not futile - he asserts that there is a purpose and a reason for living. During Grendel’s adolescence he is fascinated with the humans that populate the area near his home. ... However, Grendel’s relatively positive viewpoint is drastically changed once he faces rejection from the people he admires. At the moment when he is most vulnerable, the dragon immerses the fledgling Grendel in a new concept; nihilism. Grendel is so overwhelmingly suffocated by the dragons bitterness that all other existentialist concepts are purged from his thoughts. Nihilism is the basic belief that absolutely nothing has meaning.