Character Analysis
Hrothulf's stinky revolutionary partner seems a bad match for the young lad in more ways than one. First, did we mention that he smells? Okay, well, second: he's a definite agitator. Hrothulf may be unhappy about his demotion to hanger-on and orphan nephew, but nothing might come of it if Red Horse hadn't opened his big, stinky mouth.
Red Horse fills the boy's head with slogans straight from Machiavelli, like: "The total ruin of institutions and morals is an act of creation." Not to mention: "Rewards to people who fit the system best, you know" (118).
Red Horse's advice is a double-edged sword for Hrothulf. Hrothulf may be discontented, but he's no groundling. What Red Horse is really advocating is a total overthrow of the government with no plan for a replacement—in short, total anarchy. Yeah, did we mention that Hrothulf is a prince? While he would like to step into his cousins' shoes and take Hrothgar's place when the good king dies, the fact remains that like most monarchs, he's pretty okay with keeping the monarchy.
So what, exactly, is Red Horse hoping for? Simple. It's the same thing Grendel hopes for when he sees human beings killing themselves and each other: chaos.
Hrothulf is not prepared to commit to the cause at this level and thinks his pal will allow revisions to his revolutionary philosophy. Yet Red Horse gets the last word and the upper hand in their conversations. "All governments are evil," he says, "If you want me to help you destroy a government, I'm here to serve. But as for Universal Justice—" (120). We think you can fill in the blanks.
Red Horse's Timeline