The Virtue In 'Sir Gawain And The Green Knight'

Brin Murray

9/29/16

English 211

Essay 1 Draft

Sir Gawain’s Fault Sir Gawain does not back down in the face of challenges; his virtues, beliefs, and even his flaws guiding him towards becoming the best knight he can be. Whether the challenge is politely declining the seduction of a married woman without insulting her or facing a man whose head he had chopped off one year prior, Gawain sticks true to his self and his code of conduct. I would go so far as to argue his main fault—his lying about the green girdle to Bertilak—is not so much a fault, but a virtue in of itself. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, when Sir Gawain is first introduced we get the sense of him as a young and inexperienced knight; yet, at the same time, he comes off as both modest and self-sacrificing. When he introduces himself to the Green Knight and accepts the challenge set forth, Sir Gawain says, “I am the weakest of your warriors and feeblest of wit; / loss of my life would be least lamented” (lines 354-355). As Sir Gawain repeats the oath back to the Green Knight, we already get a sense of Gawain’s virtues. Sir Gawain is a man of his word and despite that the Green Knight had neglected to tell Sir Gawain of his supernatural ability to survive a beheading—a lie by omission—Sir Gawain does not back out, even if it will eventually cost him his life.

Bertilak’s wife also makes reference to Sir Gawain’s reputation. “’Sir, if you truly are Gawain it seems wondrous to me/ that a man so dedicated to doing his duty / cannot heed the first set rule of honorable behavior’” (lines 1481-1483). Sir Gawain has a reputation based upon his virtues, particularly chivalry. Sir Gawain would not have gained such a reputation through dying. It is a virtue and essential for a knight to be willing to do what is necessary to stay