Women who do not adhere to these mothering roles are considered monstrous or bad mothers. In Beowulf, Grendel’s father is only mentioned and he clearly plays no role in Grendel’s life and seems not to matter at all. However, Grendel is the monstrous one and so is his mother because she is blamed for the turn out of her son and no blame is ever put on the absence of Grendel’s father. It is mentioned that Grendel’s father may have been a descendant of Cain or Cain himself, so Grendel has “the mark of Cain” but his monstrosity is still blamed on his mother. His father’s existence is almost completely neglected throughout the
Women who do not adhere to these mothering roles are considered monstrous or bad mothers. In Beowulf, Grendel’s father is only mentioned and he clearly plays no role in Grendel’s life and seems not to matter at all. However, Grendel is the monstrous one and so is his mother because she is blamed for the turn out of her son and no blame is ever put on the absence of Grendel’s father. It is mentioned that Grendel’s father may have been a descendant of Cain or Cain himself, so Grendel has “the mark of Cain” but his monstrosity is still blamed on his mother. His father’s existence is almost completely neglected throughout the