Chapter 8, Machiavelli
A certain, different individual has begun living amongst Hrothgar and his fools. The king’s younger
brother, Hrothulf, was given shelter following the death of the boy’s parents. After observing both his
and Wealhtheow’s actions, I have come to the conclusion that every action has an equal and an opposite
reaction. While Wealhtheow brought peace and love to the mead hall, Hrothulf “cleans his knife” (113).
Unlike the others in the mead hall, he is not there to live under Hrothgar; rather, he seeks to overthrow
his older brother (Unferth would most certainly disapprove). He is a wolf, hidden among the sheep. He
is not working alone, either. He often meets a strange old man who goes by the name “Red Horse.” Red
Horse smells, yells and spits when he speaks, and his eyes are constantly bulging. The old man fills
Hrothulf’s head with unconventional yet interesting political ideas.
brother, Hrothulf, was given shelter following the death of the boy’s parents. After observing both his
and Wealhtheow’s actions, I have come to the conclusion that every action has an equal and an opposite
reaction. While Wealhtheow brought peace and love to the mead hall, Hrothulf “cleans his knife” (113).
Unlike the others in the mead hall, he is not there to live under Hrothgar; rather, he seeks to overthrow
his older brother (Unferth would most certainly disapprove). He is a wolf, hidden among the sheep. He
is not working alone, either. He often meets a strange old man who goes by the name “Red Horse.” Red
Horse smells, yells and spits when he speaks, and his eyes are constantly bulging. The old man fills
Hrothulf’s head with unconventional yet interesting political ideas.
Red Horse scorns the idea that government can be good. He does not even believe that they can be
slightly evil; they must all be monstrously evil. I do not blame him, for Hrothgar's rule has left a bad
taste in my mouth. The old man advises Hrothulf to "satisfy the greed of the majority" (118). He claims
that if that is achieved, the rest of the people will do no harm. He believes in lying and fraud in order to
retain power in the event that people become resentful. All of this is quite interesting; one could write a
book about it. Hrothgar has begun to suspect his nephew's intentions. "Hrothulf, he knows, is a danger
to his sons" (121). This does not surprise me; no man who has held power for as long as him is not
suspicious of those who would plot to steal that power.
slightly evil; they must all be monstrously evil. I do not blame him, for Hrothgar's rule has left a bad
taste in my mouth. The old man advises Hrothulf to "satisfy the greed of the majority" (118). He claims
that if that is achieved, the rest of the people will do no harm. He believes in lying and fraud in order to
retain power in the event that people become resentful. All of this is quite interesting; one could write a
book about it. Hrothgar has begun to suspect his nephew's intentions. "Hrothulf, he knows, is a danger
to his sons" (121). This does not surprise me; no man who has held power for as long as him is not
suspicious of those who would plot to steal that power.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIbvyzEueD4
Works Cited
Gardner, John. Grendel. Random House, Inc., 1989.
Suyeoka, director. Evil Laugh. YouTube, YouTube, 12 May 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIbvyzEueD4.
This is Laura Moritz. Once again I still enjoy your style of writing and the important events that you highlight in your analysis. The specific details that you address as well as the quotes you use to support your interpretation of the novel are very good. I also really enjoyed the picture that you used for this entry as Hrothulf is trying to topple the rulers, like playing a game of chess. I do wish that you would address Machiavelli and his ruling principle. I would have loved to see how you would relate those principles to Hrothgar's rule and the ignorance of his lower class peasant subjects. I think that addressing the philosophies present in each chapter is important to your analysis.
ReplyDeleteGrendel's voice translates very well in this post - I felt as if I was reading straight from the book, so that was very well done. You threaded the concept of a Machiavellian mindset very well throughout, like with your use of the phrase "a wolf, hidden among the sheep". I like that you included Grendel's discernment of the difference between Hrothulf and Wealhtheow, and how he is able to recognize the extremes of the spectrum of selflessness and selfishness. I also liked that you illustrated Grendel's fascination with the ideas Red Horse gives to Hrothulf ("all of this is quite interesting; one could write a book about it"). Saying this gives us even more insight into Grendel's intelligence and not only his ability to analyze, but to enjoy.
ReplyDelete