In John Gardner’s 1971 novel, Grendel, the protagonist’s mind is open to readers, giving them an inside look into the troubles of life from an outside perspective. Even though the mind we are diving into is not human per se, the elements exhibited throughout the novel are extremely similar and relatable to that of a true human’s. Through this, the reader is able to explore essential themes present in Grendel’s life that also correlate with everyday life for humans. As he is very similar to most humans besides his physical abnormalities, he experiences events and thinks about them the same way. Knowing and witnessing his troubles first-hand such as isolation, the search for meaning, and the formation of one's personal identity reveal raw elements …show more content…
Grendel is unable to communicate with humans effectively since he does not know their language or the way they talk, which can be compared to how many humans have felt left out throughout their lives because of their inability to connect with a certain group because of language barriers. “It was unfair to me. For all I knew he might be telling me gibberish on purpose.” (Gardner 70). From this, we can start to understand Grendel’s frustration from the inability to communicate with the Danes, and all humans, which leads to him feeling rather isolated and alienated from the people around him. The reader can relate this to their experiences where a lack of communication has led to loneliness in their lives, which supports the idea that no one human is alone in their struggles, and all have the same human condition. Grendel’s relatable struggles with humans does not end in isolation, however, he experiences many more relevant things in humans’ lives. Grendel also experiences a lack of meaning in his life, and often contemplates what he should be doing on Earth on a daily basis or in the long