Team Grendel's Mother

Blog 9/13/2017                                    Team Grendel’s Mother                    Blog #3
It is impossible to sum up Grendel’s mother and the complexity of her role in Beowulf. She is firstly, a mother to Grendel and secondly, enemy to Beowulf. She is motivated to avenge her son, which makes her the most unique female character in Beowulf. Historically and narratively, Grendel’s mother’s behavior goes against the norms other women followed. Grendel’s mother does not mourn her son’s death, she does not become weak, she is enraged and decides to kill Beowulf.  However noble her motives are, she is destined to fail not only because she is the antagonist, but because she is female. To further degrade Grendel’s mother and her feminity, she does not have her appearance spot lighted, which is the typical introduction and value to female characters. The initial disregard to her appearance sets her apart, possibly foreshadowing her actions.
Grendel was portrayed as a monster, therefore, Grendel’s mother is also portrayed with animalistic qualities. The image of man defeating beast image is painted during her fight with Beowulf, “she pounced upon him” (1545). The word “pounce” is a verb that has an animalistic connotation. Beowulf’s method in killing Grendel’s mother is a beheading and executioner style, which is also dehumanizing When she was killed “[t]he blade in an arc, a resolute blow, [t]hat bit into her neck bone, [a]nd severed it entirely, toppling the doomed, [h]ouse of her flesh; she fell to the floor. The sword dripped blood, the swordsman was elated” (1565-1570). The name of Beowulf’s sword is Hrunting, which is one letter shy from hunting, another animalistic connoted example. Separating Grendel’s mother from her feminity and transforming her in an animalistic light gives her strength as a character.

Grendel’s mother strength is important to recognize when judging the heroism light on Beowulf. Grendel’s mother puts up a good fight and a fair match to Beowulf even though “[t]he son of Ecgtheow would surely have perished [a]nd the Geats lost their warrior under the wide earth, [h]ad the strong links and locks of his war-gear, [n]ot helped to save him: Holy God, Decided the victory. It was easy for the Lord, The Ruler of Heaven, to redress the balance, [o]nce Beowulf got back up on his feet” (1550-1556). If God had not predestined his victory, or if Beowulf fought without his armor, Grendel’s mother quiet possibly would have been successful.

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