Grendel
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Outcasts are everywhere, in the schools, in the work place, and sadly even in families. Sexuality, religion, race, and heritage are the main reasons people become outcasts. People either dont understand it or just make assumptions. Like Grendel, his heritage made him an outcast. They didnt even know him but because of what he looked like they immediately looked down on him.
Like Grendel we all start out loving everybody. We dont understand the different cultures and races. We just see the person for who they are not what they wear or who they worship, as did Grendel. But as he got older he started to see how humans interact and their nature. As we get older we start to separate from other people besides our friends. You wouldnt hang out with a gothic or a “punk” if your friends are preps. Gothics and “punks” are the outcasts in high schools today.
Some people might say that the “punks” and the Goths choose to be outcasts. To a certain extent this is true. But in Grendels case he had no choice. He was born an outcast because of the sin his ancestors committed. Sexual preference is a big way to get you sent to the lonely lunch table on the other side of the room. Grendel really did nothing wrong. Perhaps if they would have accepted him instead of trying to kill him it would be a different ball game. But then we would have met Beowulf or heard of his heroic adventures.
What it all comes down to is people are sacred of what they dont understand. In the story when Grendel first tries to speak to them they are afraid so they attack. And in Grendels case being an outcast can have major effects. He killed many people for no reason. In our world kids were considered outcasts so they decided to have a shooting spree at a school in Colorado. Even some of the popular people can become outcasts as well. If they are at a party and “make a fool of themselves” then no one might not talk to them anymore.
Like I said before people are afraid of what they dont understand. Some one new comes to school with a weird hair cut so instead of finding out who they are as a person we turn our backs or in Grendels case attack them. Outcasts can be found everywhere. Even in literature as Grendel proves. We as people should learn from this and take the time to learn about the people who might look different or like different things.