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Why is the character Grendel in Beowulf upset?
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Grendel is upset in "Beowulf" because he embodies evil and is a descendant of Cain, the first murderer. As an outcast cursed by God, Grendel is tormented by the joy and blessings of King Hrothgar's mead hall, Heorot, which he cannot share. This drives him to attack in envy and rage. Additionally, Beowulf's arrival represents divine opposition to Grendel, further exacerbating his fury and highlighting the theme of good versus evil.
Grendel is so upset in Beowulf because he ultimately represents the epitome of evil. In the epic poem we learn that Grendel is a descendent of Cain, and the author of this epic poem makes this allusion to Cain to emphasize how evil Grendel is. Grendel is a descendent of the first murderer in literary history; therefore, he is ultimately shunned by society and King Hrothgar and his men.
King Hrothgar's mead Hhall is constantly described as golden, emphasizing King Hrothgar's connection with heaven and his role as a Christ-like figure (before Beowulf comes into the picture). Furthermore, his own throne is described as golden and cannot be touched by evil (i.e., Grendel). Whenever Grendel hears the joyful singing and fun that is being had at the mead hall, not only is he reminded of the joy he can never experience, but he also feels anguish at the true pleasure...
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Hrothgar's men are experiencing in the mead hall.
This dichotomy that is created between King Hrothgar's golden hall and Grendel's evil nature sets up the one of the most powerful Anglo-Saxon themes, good versus evil.
Depending on which translation of Beowulf you are looking at, Grendel's displeasure with the singing of Hrothgar's men can typically be found at the beginning of the epic poem before Beowulf arrives and Grendel kills Hrothgar's men.
Why was Grendel upset?
There are two examples of why Grendel was so perturbed in the epic poem Beowulf. First, examine Grendel's origin. He is a descendant of Cain, a Biblical figure who murdered his own brother in a fit of jealousy. According to Beowulf, God punished Cain by cursing his lineage, so that he would become a father of monsters. Grendel himself is monstrous, and in line with his heritage, he is an outcast, and "God did oppose him." When King Hrothgar builds Heorot, the Danes rejoice and celebrate, praising God for his blessings. Grendel, much like his ancestor Cain, attacks the first night after Heorot is built, in a fit of envy. The Danes' joy drives him into a rage, and he slaughters thirty men, returning each night to the mead hall in order to kill more people.
The second reason behind Grendel's perturbation is Beowulf himself. For twelve years, Grendel attacks the men at Heorot every night. He is unable to be killed due to a charm that makes him impervious to weapons, and the Danes live in fear of him. Beowulf comes to Heorot specifically because he heard about the monster Grendel. King Hrothgar is so relieved that someone has come to their aid that he declares, "Has in his hand, the hero-in-battle. / The holy Creator usward sent him." Hrothgar believes that Beowulf has been sent by God as direct opposition to Grendel. Grendel is once again facing God, in the form of Beowulf, who cursed him long before he was even born.