Homo sapiens, otherwise known as humans, have created massive empires, resilient civilizations, and eloquent leaders over time. But what price have we paid to rise above our ancestral nomadic ways in order to achieve a “civilized state”? As a species, which claims to rule the Earth, we have done little to help the very planet that supports us. We are destroying ecosystems, causing the extinction of other species, and creating disastrous conflicts among our own brethren. Humans, in general, have a very skewed perspective on our race: we are only taught what those in power want us to know, and we view our species only from our own perspective, because no other species is capable of doing so. 'have the mental capacity to inform. us differently. As a result, we are, for the most part, ignorant of our own detrimental effects on the earth and our very existence. The human race has many flaws, some as obvious as the color of the sky on a clear day and others more difficult to understand. Grendel, written by John Gardner, depicts the story of the epic poem Beowulf, from Grendel's point of view. Grendel has the ability to see these flaws objectively; similar to his contemporary counterpart Ishmael of Ishmael. Both creatures have the ability to perceive the human race from an objective point of view. Grendel is also similar to John in Brave New World, in the sense that, like John, Grendel is similar to another group of individuals, but different enough to not be capable of assimilation. Grendel's similarities to humans allow him to effectively analyze human behavior. Although he may not understand the exact reason for certain actions humans perform, he at least has the ability to examine them. Grendel watched the Danes throw rings and swords at a funeral...... middle of paper ......ty to see what it means to be human. Because Grendel has limitations, this allows his point of view to be pure of the idealism of humans; thus making his point of view objective. Grendel has many characteristics that prove he is related to men. But at the same time he is foreign to the Danes. It is the combination of both human and alien qualities that allow Grendel to be an impartial narrator. Although in most works of prose fiction, limited knowledge and experience would be qualities of an unreliable narrator, in Grendel they are instrumental in helping Grendel maintain his non-idealized view of the human race. Therefore, due to Grendel's inability to assimilate into Danish society and his ability to objectively examine human behavior, his perspective provides us readers with the opportunity to see more clearly what means to be Homo sapiens..