D'Artagnan is a young, impoverished man from the rural area of France called Gascony. He goes to Paris in hopes of becoming one of the king's musketeers. He has few assets and relies on his wit and charm to guide him. Despite his lack of juvenility, he still deeply believes in the idea of chivalry. It is that ideal that earns him the respect and friendship of his friends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. D'Artagnan is also a very passionate man. He pursues both his enemies and love interests with reckless abandon. An example would be D'Artagnan's pursuit of his 'evil-guiness,'; Rochefort. Also, his passion is exhibited in his quest to aid the queen. Such deeds also prove D'Artagnan's bravery. And, it is D'Artagnan's bravery that earns him the trust of the queen and allows him to pursue his love interest, Madame Bonacieux. D'Artagnan's bravery also allows him to become a soldier, and later, a musketeer. It also gives D'Artagnan the courage to battle against the cardinal, despite his power. Thus, his bravery also gets him into trouble. D'Artagnan is constantly at battle against the cardinal and his agents. However, D'Artagnan is not alone in his battles. His friends support him throughout the book. And, D'Artagnan is equally allegiant to his friends. He supports his friends whenever the need arises. An example would be D'Artagnan's choice to fight with his friends in their first melee with Rochefort. D'Artagnan is indubitably loyal to his friends, as they are to him.
Loyalty is a prominent theme in the book. It is the very essence of the characters, 'All for one and one for all.'; The four friends are devoted to each other and prove it throughout the book. The friends all nobly stand by each other in their battle against the cardinal. On several occasions D'Artangnan calls upon his comrades to help him in his quests. D'Artangnan tells them nothing of the details simply that they are likely to perish on the journey. Yet, all the friends immediately and without query agree to assist D'Artangnan. Another example is D'Artangnan's extreme loyalty to the queen and his love Madame Bonacieux. D'Artagnan accepts several dangerous missions from the queen. He risks life and limb to help save the queen from scandal. And again endangers himself in an attempt to rescue his beloved Madame Bonacieux. It is D'Artagnan's loyalty that actually makes him a musketeer.
He demonstrates goodness at the hand of the Green Knight. He shows courage by accepting what is to come upon him during his voyage. His journey to find the Green Knight is filled with temptations. In the conversation with him and the “Lady”, Sir Gawain showed a Chivalrous code by keeping his loyalty to the king by not kissing his wife. The lady states “if I should exchange at my choice and choose me a husband for the noble I know….would I elect before you”.
Examples of loyalty can be found in many pieces of classic literature such as _Don Quixote_, _The Odyssey_, and _Sir Gawain and the Green Knight_. Many characters in the stories profess their loyalty to other characters. Some of them fail in their loyalty tests while others prevail. I found loyalty to be an underlying theme in all three pieces of literature covered in this paper. The examples provided should prove the theme of loyalty.
Marie De France’s Lanval is a remarkable short narrative that engages the reader into a world filled with unrealistic elements, but enhances on the true meaning of romance, chivalry and nature during the years that King Arthur reigned. “Sir Gawain and The Green Knight” unfortunately does not have an author that can be recognized but this epic poem demonstrates the ghastly adventure of a knight who decides to defend the honor of young King Arthur against a supernatural being in this malicious game of cat and mouse. Both of these pieces of literature have enchanting characteristics that define them as a masterpiece of their era and that’s why they both are easily compared and contrasted. In addition, both Lanval and “Sir Gawain and The Green Knight” can be classified as similar through their themes, style and plots, although they are different through their language and diction. Even though both of these literatures can be viewed as similar as well as contrasting, in the end, each of these tales have illuminated the realm of fantasy throughout the court of King Arthur.
Sir Gawain is King Arthur’s nephew and one of his most faithful knights. Although Gawain modestly refutes it, he has a reputation of being an honorable knight and courtly man. He prides himself on his adherence of the five parts of chivalry and is a pinnacle display of humility, piety, integrity, loyalty, and honesty that all other knights strive for. Though Gawain sits at the high table during the New Year’s celebration at Arthur’s court, he defines himself as the least of King Arthur’s knights in terms of both physical ability and mental aptitude. Gawain continually seeks to better improve his inner self throughout the story. His only known flaw proves to be his love to preserve his own life, so much that he will sacrifice his honor in order to save himself.
In the opening lines of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the Gawain-poet predicates the numerous dualities—which lead the reader through questions of moral seriousness—that exist in the poem. The opening historical recounting, according to Richard Hamilton Green, reminds the reader that “the greatness of the past is marred by reminders of failure” (179). The paradox of triumph and greatness arising out of failure foreshadows Sir Gawain following the same pattern of fate as his predecessors. While the completion of Gawain’s quest reaffirms the historical paradox of greatness, his journey to renown is fraught with situations and symbols that develop the poem’s main concern of moral seriousness. The Gawain-poet skillfully reveals his theme by leading Gawain on a journey in which nothing is what it seems. Sir Gawain and the reader are confronted with several contrasts of characters’ actions and intentions, symbolic meanings, and Christian and secular virtues. Mainly by showing the difference between actions and attitudes while inside in a social situation and outside in a more wild, untamed environment, these contrasts help to emphasize the importance of unbending faith and loyalty.
Cyrano De Bergerac is an inspiring play based on a tragic love. The characters are revealed within unique backgrounds, creating life and depth between our imaginations. There are a variety of important characters throughout the play besides Cyrano De Bergerac. The play consists of more important characters than Christian De Neuvillette, although he is the most admirable. Three admirable qualities that Christian possessed are courtesy, modesty and bravery.
Arveragus embarks on a journey as a knight. While her husband is away Dorigen is devastated and is eventually greeted by a squire ,who confronts and confesses his love for her. The squire was known to be the handsomest man alive. He was young, strong, wealthy, mettlesome, and discreet. He also sang and danced better than any man.
Sir Gawain is presented as a noble knight who is the epitome of chivalry; he is loyal, honest and above all, courteous. He is the perfect knight; he is so recognised by the various characters in the story and, for all his modesty, implicitly in his view of himself. To the others his greatest qualities are his knightly courtesy and his success in battle. To Gawain these are important, but he seems to set an even higher value on his courage and integrity, the two central pillars of his manhood.
The Arthurian legends of Iwein and Gawain and the Green Knight are two examples of the medieval initiation story: a tale in which a character, usually in puberty or young adulthood, leaves home to seek adventures and, in the process, maturity. Through the course of their adventures, including a meeting with the man of the wilderness, temptations at the hands of women, and a permanent physical or mental wounding, the character grows from adolescent awkwardness and foolishness to the full potential knightly honor. While both Arthurian legends fit this format, the depth of character development, specifically in terms of relationships, is vastly different. Whereas Gawain and the Green Knight does little more with relationships than demonstrate the evils of female temptations, Iwein effectively explores the formation, destruction, and resurrection of numerous male and female relationships.
Durrenmatt uses many allusions in The Visit in which its connections sheds so much more light on the play and helps to emphasize even the smallest aspects of it. Durrenmatt’s implementation of allusions to describe characters at a deeper lever, compare events in Guellen to its contrasting Westernized culture and show the irony of what Claire does to what others say, helps us understand The Visit at a much deeper level and far more interesting way.
Sir Gawain is, undoubtably, the most varied of the Arthurian characters: from his first minor appearance as Gwalchmei in the Welsh tales to his usually side-line participation in the modern retelling of the tales, no other character has gone from such exalted heights (being regarded as a paragon of virtue) to such dismal depths (being reduced to a borderline rapist, murderer, and uncouth bore), as he. This degree of metamorphosis in character, however, has allowed for a staggering number of different approaches and studies in Gawain.
Tragic and hero may not be words that easily reveal a relationship, but throughout literature the two have been linked to create an enthralling read. The emergence of the tragic hero seemed to take shape in ancient Greece where such works as Oedipus and Antigone were popular among all classes of people. Aristotle defined a tragedy as "the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself. It incorporates incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish the catharsis of such emotions." Though Greece may be credited with the creation of tragic heroes, the theme is seen in literary works across many different cultures, including England. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is one such English work where the development of the main character, Gawain, follows the pattern of the classical tragic hero. In this paper, we will explore the characteristics of the tragic hero and show how these traits are demonstrated in Gawain.
Similar to honesty, a big part of loyalty is trust. When I was a freshman in highschool, I was in a relationship with someone, but it was kept a secret because we did not want anyone to find out. I only told my closest friend, Julian, because I trusted him the most. However, the relationship got emotionally and psychologically abusive. I told Julian, but I did not want anyone else knowing because I feared that it was my fault and I would get in trouble. Julian stayed loyal to keeping my relationship a secret, but when he found out it was abusive, he told my counselor. I was against getting help at first but with Julian’s loyalty to me and my protection, he helped me get out of the relationship with the support of an adult. Although it was not to the extent of my situation, a similar situation can be seen in The Chosen. Reuven tells his father Danny’s secret when he is worried about him. When Danny’s brother becomes very ill, Mr. Malter notices that Reuven is greatly disturbed and confronts him about it. Worried about his best friend, Reuven explains how Danny is in a panic over his brother’s illness; without his brother, he will not be able to break away from his father and he will destroy the family dynasty. Upset, Mr. Malter asks Reuven why he did not tell him about Danny’s future sooner. Reuven justifies himself and says, “It was a secret between us, abba” (270). Although Reuven and his father have a very close relationship, Reuven and Danny’s friendship proves to be just as strong because he is willing to keep Danny’s secret from his father, who he trusts with anything. He only tells his father when he believes Danny may be in trouble and needs help. This demonstrates Reuven’s loyalty to Danny and how dedicated he is to protecting
Victor Hugo is known for his great work in romantic literature. In one of his best known works, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, there is a very prevalent theme of love. Love can both be a wonderful thing, and something that may cause a painful heartbreak. In The Hunchback of Notre Dame, love is depicted as both of these. Phoebus de Chateaupers, the captain of the king's archers, is one of the characters that brings out the love theme, but not always in the right way. He tends to use is handsome looks and charm to make women fall head over heals in love with him, but unfortunately he rarely loves back. Phoebus's perception of how a woman should be treated is one of his flaws that prevail in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Like his wife Lucie Manette, Charles Darnay is a largely passive character. Although his manners and behavior are impeccable and his intentions are well-meant, he is incapable of performing the important tasks to which he commits himself. Both his arrests take place while he is in the process of trying to extract friends or former servants from difficulties.