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In Beowulf, how does Grendel feel about Hrothgar's men?

Grendel appears to despise men, and want them all dead; not just Hrothgar's men, but Beowulf and his group as well, and presumably the rest of humanity.


The exact reason for Grendel's anger isn't explicitly detailed, but it appears that Grendel was able to hear the revelry and praise taking place in Heorot, and it grieved him with jealousy to hear people praising God, when Grendel had been cast out of God's grace by virtue of his being a descendant of Cain. We might imagine that Grendel felt slighted and mocked by the simultaneous attraction and exclusivity of Heorot, and so his hatred was born of his inability to share in its glory. 


At several other points we learn that Grendel feels no remorse or hesitation over his murders; in fact, he seems to enjoy them. The murders "grieved him not," for he was too familiar with death and violence, and his "heart laughs" at the thought of eating Beowulf's men. These villainous characterizations are probably intended to ensure that we understand Grendel as a creature of pure evil.

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