An analysis of the philosophy of Nihilism as it appears in the novel "Grendel" by John Gardner

The first part of this essay refers to the Novel "Grendel" by John Gardner, the latter delves into Nihilism in the real world, and then combines the two. For those that don't know, Grendel was the monster in Beowolf.
One of the most prominent themes in the novel Grendel by John Gardner is whether or not virtues such as faith, love, truth, and justice, actually exist, or if they are simply illusions. Baby Grendel; that is, Grendel before he becomes jaded and hardened by his experiences with men and the dragon, believes in these virtues. On the other hand the dragon, who is portrayed as…