Revenge from Grendel’s mother

    In my previous blog, I talk about how Beowulf fought Grendel, but in the earlier story, which is after Grendel’s defeat, there are frequent suggestions from the people in the Danes. When the Danes were celebrating by singing the poetry in Heorot. Some of them think Grendel himself is still alive, though Beowulf rips his arm off, because as I mentioned, it didn't talk about Grendel's death, and so the remaining threat proves instead to be Grendel’s mother. From Line 1028 to 1850. It talks about Grendel’s mother avenging her son by attacking Heorot at night, killing King Hrothgar’s friend Aeschere, and taking with her the trophy of her son’s dismembered arm.

    From this part of the story, I would say Grendel and his mother’s killing motivation it’s very different. Grendel’s motivation is by hearing Hrothgar's bard sing songs about God's creation of the world, which rubs his demonic nature the wrong way. Unlike Grendel, the mother’s motivation seems purely retaliatory, because she is less interested in plunder than she is in making the Danes pay, and I believe this is why she leaves a clear trail behind and marks the spot for Hrothgar and Beowulf to discover. Grendel’s mother is luring Beowulf into the lake, so she can have her final revenge; And of course, Beowulf is totally more than up to the challenge, just by knowing what kind of personality he had from the previous blog I wrote.

    Their fight was savage, when Beowulf jumps into the lake, he was immediately captured by Grendel’s mother to her underwater cave. Beowulf uses the ancient sword Hrunting given by Unferth, and unfortunately, even the sword of Hrunting is unable to pierce the monster’s skin. Therefore, Beowulf tries to fight with her by only using his bare hand, like what he did to Grendel, but she matches him blow for blow. At last, he notices a sword hanging on the wall, which is an enormous weapon forged for giants. Beowulf used that weapon’s blade slices cleanly through Grendel’s mother’s neck, and she falls dead to the floor, gushing with blood. Beowulf looks around, his sword held high in readiness. He spies Grendel's corpse lying in a corner and he decapitates Grendel as a final repayment for all of the lives that Grendel took.

    But, after reading this part, I don't think this fight is worth celebrating, because looking at Grendel's mother’s motivation, you might think of her as an avenging monster, but in my perspective, she is more of a grieving mother who lost her child, and fighting for her son’s justified. And I believe the maternal bond between Grendel and his mother is important during this scene, because a mother can be caring and avenger at the same time. When she fears a threat to her child, she can do anything. The part of the story lacks portray motherly love but I can feel it through her action.