Mortality In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

Medieval romance writings consist of a quest of an honorable and chivalrous hero who overcomes the unattainable to prove their virtue. Yet, these perceived idealized heroes often fall short of their expected abilities and values. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain is an example of a knight with shortcomings. Nevertheless, Gawain appropriately confronts the imperfections of his life which leads the Green Knight to determine the imperfect knight to be virtuous. Through Sir Gawain’s weakness in strength, courage in redeeming himself, and repentance of his sinful impurities, Gawain demonstrates that a flawed person is capable of a respected and honorable life. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the poet uses the Green Knight’s judgment

The promise Sir Gawain made with the Green Knight is overlapped with another promise made to a lord who shelters Gawain, which ultimately shows Gawain’s appeal to his own mortality. Though Gawain failing to return the magic green girdle in order to protect himself shows his lack of ideal perfection, Sir Gawain’s integrity stays true to his credibility as a honorable and worthy man as he choses to continue to pursue the Green Knight’s castle. When confronting the Green Knight and flinching at the first swing, Gawain once again reveals the flawed characteristic that a chivalrous knight should not possess. Nevertheless, following being confronted with his failure, Sir Gawain swears to fix his flaw as he states, “Deliver me my destiny, and do it out of hand,/ For I shall stand to the stroke and stir not an inch/ Till your ax has hit home–on my honor I swear it!” (378-380). Gawain shows that he will fix himself with honorable credibility in redemption in order to forgive his diversion from an idealized knight. Though his mortality threatens his judgment, Gawain’s shows his value and strong character by trying to right his wrongs. As Gawain follows through on his promise while also showing he is capable of great honor, the Green Knight ultimately judges Gawain as an honorable man who has lived his life free of fault. Once the Green Knight reveals that the game was a test and that he was the host at the castle where Sir Gawain did not return the magic green girdle, Gawain believes that he has failed the Green Knight and the test as a whole. Although Gawain is a weak knight, he is able to seek forgiveness for his sins and in turn live an honorable life, as he proves to the Green Knight by