There are so many thematic elements within Beowulf and yet, the one that I find myself the most attracted to is the least scholarly of them all. Still, each time I read bout Grendel's death and his mother's rampage of revenge, I cannot help but ponder the immense ferocity that many authors include in their motherly characters.
Many of us are familiar with the Mama Bear analogy which illustrates how, generally, most mothers are soft and lovable, but if their children are ever threatened, a whole new monster arises! Disney's movie Brave better displays this imagery (hence the reason for my title).
Regardless, there are many other examples of this fiery maternal instinct. In Confessions, we learned more about Augustine's mom and the overt passion that went into all of her prayers about her son. She only ever wanted what was best for him, similar to Trevor Noah's mother in Born a Crime. In that story, we are introduced to the author's highly determined mother and, throughout the novel, are able to get a complete picture of the strong woman who raised him.
To take a quick detour into fiction, The Scarlett Letter showcases another tough mama. The story follows the adulterous Hester Prynne as she raises her child, Pearl, having been outcasted by the members of her small village.
Everywhere you look, you can find examples of fiercely protective and determined mothers. This is part of the reason why Grendel's mother is so interesting to me. Not only is she a parent, but she is also a monster who has no moral limitations. When you combine a mother's rage with a beast's natural desire to do whatever it takes to protect her offspring, you're in for one wild ride! Along with everything else Grendel's mother is supposed to represent, I do not think that it is fair to ignore the uncanny illustration of pure power that blossoms inside a mom whenever you hurt one of her babies! Having ripped the teddy bear to shreds, Grendel's mother stands as the monster sleeping deep beneath the fluff.
Edit - Replied to Leanne White and Brooke Hutcheson.
Hi Hailey! I love your post! Throughout the story I have never really thought of Grendel's mother as a mother. She is a monster, basically devoid of any humanity, yet through your lens I see her in a different light. Your reference to the movie 'Brave' helped me understand her as a mother. I find myself almost sympathetic to her drive to avenge her son.
ReplyDeleteYES YES YES!! I was totally picking up on this when I was reading. I honestly think that she was just being a good mom and was being portrayed as evil by the author. I'd love to have a mom like Grendel... oops
ReplyDeleteWow, Hailey! You made me view Grendel's mother in a completely different way than I've ever viewed her before. No one has ever drawn that comparison or gave so much slack in her defense until now. From her and Grendel's side, the villagers were the villains; she was just vouching for her baby (who was indeed a monster and basically slaughtered everyone but still..) Misjudged, underdog villains have always intrigued me!
ReplyDeleteI do have a little bit a sympathy for Grendel's mother. Her son was killed and that is horrible, but I have almost no sympathy for Grendel. He did not need to kill as much as he was, and as a mother she shouldn't support that. I love that you touch on the "human" side of these monsters but also still include the fact that they have practically no moral limitations. I think it shows exactly what makes a monster a monster. Love your post!
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