Examples Of Chivalry In Sir Gawain

Sir Gawain follows each of the societally required aspects of chivalry and honor expected of knights during the Medieval Period. These aspects include: humility regarding one’s own value, honoring one’s promises, and the value of chivalry and honor over personal wellbeing. Although he dutifully follows all of the conventions, he only follows them to a point, with the exception of valuing chivalry and honor over one’s wellbeing.

King Arthur himself intends to take up the challenge that has been put forth by the Green Knight because he feels personally insulted, until Sir Gawain intercedes. The knight stands and requests to take his place because he is “the weakest of [the knights], I know, and the dullest-minded, / So my death would be the least loss, if truth should be told” (354-355). This is the most significant example of Sir Gawain’s extreme humility. It is either humility, or the lowest self-esteem of any

protagonist ever.
The narrator shows that this low view of his worth is only displayed by Sir Gawain himself.

There are many examples and descriptions of others’ high opinions of Gawain. When Sir Gawain prepares to leave to fulfill his end of the agreement with the Green Knight, “Much deep sorrowing was heard in the hall / That one as noble as Gawain should go on the quest” (558-229). A significant aspect of poetry during the Medieval Period, and long before, is a lengthy description of the protagonist putting on their battle gear before the climax of the poem. A significant amount of the material in that section of the poem is dedicated to Solomon’s symbol. This symbol represents all of the good a man can be and Sir Gawain is seen as worthy to bear the design that Solomon made, an “emblem of fidelity” (626). According to the narrator, Sir Gawain “[valued] generosity and love of fellow-man above all; / His purity and courtesy were never lacking, / And surpassing all others in compassion: these noble five / Were more deeply implanted in in that man than any other”

(652-655).
Another basic societal rule of chivalry is honoring one’s promises. There are two promises that Sir Gawain makes in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: the first is to find the Green Knight after one year has passed to return the blow delivered to him, the second promise he makes is to give to his host, Lord Bertilak, whatever he receives in exchange for what Lord Bertilak has received on his hunt. Sir Gawain keeps one promise and breaks another.
When the time came for Sir Gawain to go to meet his certain death from the Green Knight, Sir Gawain did not fail to honor his end of the bargain with the other knight. Sir Gawain’s departure from the court of King Arthur was surrounded in grief from all, except the man himself. As he leaves, he is almost excited to uphold his end of the bargain or, at least, he does not appear to feel any regret, “Now Gawain, lance in hand, / Is ready to depart; / He bade them all farewell, / Not to return, he thought” (666-669). This eagerness decreases dramatically as Sir Gawain gets closer to his destination, and his destiny. When the time for the contest is upon him, Sir Gawain is in a panic; he does not want to die. Sir Gawain is so desperate to not die, that he breaks the second promise he makes in the poem.