Truth

Our lives are full of hidden secrets. In order to learn the truth about some of these secrets, or even the truth about out lives we have to experience events or have our close relatives and friends tell us about them. We grow up with a certain way of thinking depending on what we're exposed to at a young age. I don't remember which teacher it was, but one of my teachers always brought up the point that if you were trapped in a box with no contact to the outside world and you were told everyday that the sky was purple that when you went out into the actual world you would truly believe the sky was purple no matter what people said. That would work until enough people said it and then seeing it every day you opinion on it would change. This reflects the way Grendel feels after hearing the Shaper tell his stories the Hrothgar's men. Grendel has gone his entire life living on the outskirts of the real world, not knowing what is actually going on or why he was forced to live the way he does. After listening to the Shaper he finally understands the big picture. Then after talking to the dragon he develops an even new way of thinking and a repulsive attitude. I believe he responds this way to all of these new truths about his life because he is so overwhelmed with all of the new truths he is discovering about his own life. He just doesn't know what to believe or trust anymore.