Stanton In-Class Discussion
Thursday, November 21st, 2024
Says art is rooted in moral effect — mirrors Merrill’s ideas
Critics of Gardner are too invested in theory instead of art
Gardner asserts that most modern fiction is tinny, commercial, and immoral
Truly good stories show how to behave rather than show our cynicism
Gardner argues that Grendel is not from immorality, it is instead a cautionary tale
Critics say Gardner has an ego and has an attitude — simply bashing him for the interpretation of his own work
→ say he often doesn’t meet the demanding standards Gardner applies to others
→ refers to how he doesn’t use the skills promoted in moral fiction
→ say his other books are dull when compared to Grendel
The Accident and Gardner’s Death
Blames himself for his brothers death
Feels that he chose his brother’s fate
→ undeniably believes he held his brother’s life in his hands
Death instead of a life of paralysis — even though realistically the brakes wouldn’t have saved him
→ Even if it wasn’t possible to save him, he had the conception that he caused his brother’s death
Accident haunted him until death
→ copious drinking, nonsleeping, and reckless driving led him to his death
Gardner “dared God to keep him alive”
→ Parallels to Grendel’s actions — middle finger to the sky
Philosophies Recap
Empiricism - Belief that knowledge comes from sensory experience
→Present in the final seen, slammed against a wall — tangible reality
Existentialism - Human life is anguished, absurd, and meaningless
What is the point of man’s life?
What is the purpose of human events?
→ Dragon tasks Grendel to create meaning of life
→Grendel needed meaning, got it through the dragon, gave it back to the people due to shaper’s visions, fulfilled his “duties”
Solipsism - The universe, as far as one can ever tell, is nothing but myself, my mind, and its ideas
Rejection of the external world (only the mind exists)
→Grendel before he interacted with humans
→ Bull scene shows his lack of knowledge for the outside world