Unferth, the same martyr
John Gardner introduces the reader of Grendel to an intima
te side of Unferth unseen in the epic poem Beowulf. In Grendel we behold what a pathetic, sniveling
wimp Unferth has become. In Beowulf all that we see is a jealous bastard. Why did Gardner make th
e character of Unferth so different from the original depiction? He didn’t. The only change in Unfe
rth from Beowulf to Grendel is his realistic characterization in Grendel.
After the drunken Danes g
ive Beowulf his warm welcome, Unferth unleashes his anger in an attack on Beowulf. This petty procl
amation which points out Beowulf’s not- so triumphant swimming contest with Brecca, shows the reader
(or listener) that Unferth is nothing more than a spineless bastard. In Grendel we find that Unfer
th’s bitterness is well founded. John Gardner shows Unferth as the most pathetic man to ever call
himself a hero. Unferth is degraded once in the apple battle (he was beat by flying fruit for god’s
sake!!!) and then again in the cave. In the cave Unferth begs Grendel to take his life but Grendel
gives him fate worse than death. Grendel leaves him alive and impotent. Unferth knows that he can
not kill Grendel yet he cannot be a martyr to Herot either.
All during the first year of Grendel’s
siege, the smell of apples fresh in the air, Unferth tries to be the Grendel’s martyr. Oh the hero
ic Unferth who died trying to save the people of Herot. Unfortunately he never got to die, not even
dressed up as a goat, a pig or an elderly women. This continuing life of impotence lead Unferth to
an immense sense of bitterness. Poor Unferth to be at a beast’s mercy for twelve years only to hav
e Beowulf disembowel Grendel in one night.
On the beach as Beowulf is about detach mama’s head f
rom her body, Unferth gives Beowulf his sword in a touching moment of peace between Beowulf and Unfe
rth. Well that is not quite right. This touching moment is Unferth’s last attempt at contributing
to his beloved Herot. If he can’t kill the beast at least his sword can. Unferth is reaching for
martyrdom. Unferth never redeems himself as a hero no matter how unselfish or heroic he was as he h
anded over his beloved sword. Unferth would never be a hero again. His one chance of “inner heroism
” was gone when Grendel refused take his life in the cave.
Unferth is the same man in both novels,
there is no doubt about that. The strands of similarity are to thick to ignore. He is dying to be
a martyr in both Grendel and Beowulf. The only difference between Grendel’s Unferth and Beowulf’s
Unferth is the detail and depth to which his character is taken. John Gardner brought a relatively
small character from Beowulf , and made him the second most defined character in Grendel. ------------------------------------------------------------- unferth same martyr john gardner introduces r
eader grendel intimate side unferth unseen epic poem beowulf grendel behold what pathetic sniveling
wimp unferth become beowulf that jealous bastard gardner make character different from original depi
ction didn only change from beowulf grendel realistic characterization after drunken danes give warm
welcome unleashes anger attack this petty proclamation which points triumphant swimming contest wit
h brecca shows reader listener that nothing more than spineless bastard find that bitterness well fo
unded john gardner shows most pathetic ever call himself hero degraded once apple battle beat flying
fruit sake then again cave cave begs take life gives fate worse than death leaves alive impotent kn
ows cannot kill cannot martyr herot either during first year siege smell apples fresh tries martyr h
eroic died trying save people herot unfortunately never even dressed goat elderly women this continu
ing life impotence lead immense sense bitterness poor beast mercy twelve years only have disembowel
night beach about detach mama head from body gives sword touching moment peace between well quite ri
ght this touching moment last attempt contributing beloved herot kill beast least sword reaching mar
tyrdom never redeems himself hero matter unselfish heroic handed over beloved sword would never hero
again chance inner heroism gone when refused take life cave same both novels there doubt about stra
nds similarity thick ignore dying both only difference between detail depth which character taken jo
hn brought relatively small character made second most definedEssay, essays, termpaper, term paper,
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