Truth.

Truth plays a huge role in everyday life. Whether or not we are told or say the truth can change our lives and how we view the world and people. In Grendel, the shaper is trusted by everyone. The shaper seems as if he only tells the good things people have done. However, the truth in real life can be altered to make things seem good or pleasant. Just like the shaper, many people only tend to remember and recall the things they want to or the things that have made them feel well about themselves. The truth can be painful at times just like the shaper. The shaper could say anything he wanted and people believed him because of his previous words an his loyalty. The shaper had the ability to make people turn against each other just like the truth (or lies) can make people turn against each other or understand each other and one's actions. Whether or not we tell the truth can change things drastically just like if the shaper had been truthful from the beginning things would have been different for many people.