A Comparison Of The Epic Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

The Epic Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

He discovers even the greatest of knights must overcome enormous temptation and pressure to live up to the chivalric and Christian ideals of knighthood. We see his shame when he returns to Arthur 's court and confesses his faults, " 'See! My lord, ' said the knight, touching the girdle, �this is the blazon of this guilty scar I bear in my neck, this is the badge of injury and the harm which I have received because of the cowardice and covetousness to which I there fell prey" (Abrams 1979, 289). Sir Gawain does exhibit bravery and loyalty, two aspects of the chivalric code. He exhibits many others as well, but his weakness with respect to fear of the Green Knight and his affections for the lady of

Sir Gawain embodies these ideals in many ways, from his brave and dedicated pursuit of the good to his courage and sacrifice for his king. However, we also see that in his actions as a man and not a knight, Sir Gawain is suscepti

The Knight’s journey provides the test of his virtue and the coquette is the temptation of courtly love that is laid before him. The coquette is an obvious example of this paradox while other sections of Sir Gawain are much more symbolic. While at Bercilak 's castle, the coquette enters Gawain 's room and begins seducing him or rather, to "teach by some tokens the true craft of love." Gawain refuses her temptations twice and then finally accepts the finally accepts the green sash under the guise that it will protect him from death. Sir Gawain does not pretend to be ignorant of what he has done. Again, displaying Knightly virtue and having the courage to face his wrong-doing, Gawain rides into his beheading wearing the bright green sash "against the gay red" mirroring the giants blood "bright on the green". As his penance, he gives the sash a place of honor, hanging from his right shoulder and tied at his left side. The sash will serve, not only to lower his pride, but also as a symbol to remind him of past "cowardice and

By proving that he is able to keep his sexual desires in check, Sir Gawain proves he is a man and a warrior – fulfilling the chivalrous code. It is important to remember that this test of chivalry is a hero 's task and is spiritual rather than physical. This concept of heroism is voiced by Bertilak by stating Sir Gawain is "the most perfect Paladin on Earth". Jill Mann agrees and claims, "in referring both to his own challenge to Arthur 's court and to his wife 's temptation of Gawain: The trial both tests and enhances value".

In truth, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight also warns of the dangers of chivalrous love. It can be a brutal bargaining table, as demonstrated from the first day that the Lady converses with Sir Gawain, she is measuring his value as a lover.

In conclusion, through Sir Gawain it is evident that the other men in the poem emulated him. When he presented himself to die fighting on behalf of the King author with the dreadful green knight, many of them thought his actions would lead him into dying but confidingly he chopped of his head and even after year he kept his word of going to fight with the green knight at his place. When he turns to God, the other men follow suit, as they believe God would protect them from their deaths especially during