Use of Civilization in Grendel

There is an argument raised about whether Grendel is the civilized or Hrothgar is the civilized character in the novel. Not only do both characters illustrate how they live a civilized life, they both demonstrate how they live an uncivilized life. The use of naturalism in the novel shows the civilized side to Grendel’s approach to life. He uses the forest as his dwelling and continues to guard it from Hrothgar during the entirety of the novel. However, Grendel also shows how he can be uncivilized by killing people and animals that he feels are inconsequential. Sometimes he leaves them withering away, instead of killing them all the way.
To be civilized is to live in a cultural state of being. Grendel is an animal born into the world by his mother. Instead of living in a cave, which an uncivilized animal would live, he resides in the forest. The forest is a place where most all animals live in harmony with one another. Grendel feels he has to protect his ...