Similarities Between Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

Gawain is portrayed as a legend throughout the tale Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. He is chivalrous, courteous, and brave in his actions and words. This folktale is believed to be written down sometime between the twelfth and fourteenth century, and Sir Gawain is the ideal man for the generation. Despite being a hero and one of the bravest knights at the Round Table, he does have multiple major flaws. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain is shown as a hero, but consists of human flaws which makes him more related to the modern reader.

To begin, the protagonist is continually rendered as the ideal man of his society for his honor of his king. At the start of the book, the magnificent Green Knight described as the “mightiest of mortals”

stormed into the dining hall where the Round Table knights were feasting, and struck fear into everybody. The fellow in green demanded someone play his game, a man gets to strike his head now, but in one year's time, the Green Knight could deliver a blow of his own. The King of England, Arthur, decides to carouse with him, but at the risk of life and death Gawain decides to volunteer himself. He humbly states to his lord “I am weakest of your warriors and feeblest of wit” and that the “loss of my life would be grieved the least”(354-355). He honors his king and his fellow knights by stepping up, and before beheading the supernatural Green Knight, “they stood face-to-face, not one man afraid”(376). Gawain is not only humble in his words, courageous when in danger, and honorable to those who deserve respect in this one particular situation He lives up to standards on his heroic quest in which all heroes must embark upon after the villain in emerald escapes death. On this voyage to his ultimate death, Sir Gawain demonstrates why he is the most fit of the knights at the Round Table to take part in this game. He remains loyal to the generous host who provided shelter by pertaining to the code of chivalry and keeping his chastity. Although she was enticing and beautiful Gawain was able to resist her and truthfully demonstrate to the host what he did with her. Finally, Gawain honors his deal with the Green Knight by showing up to the chapel. He is given the decision to leave by the servant, who promises he won't tell anyone that he showed cowardice, but Gawain declines the offering saying “I'll speak openly to him, whether fairness or foulness follows, however fate behaves((2132-2134).” After being honorable to his king, faithful to his code, and loyal to his deal, Gawain demonstrates heroic traits and goes upon an epic journey like all the other great heroes of the time, making him one of the ideal persons at the time.
Even though he is the perfect man for society, Sir Gawain does have a flaw and that is his desire to live.

The gallant did wear a girdle that protects him from being beheaded, just like the one the Green Knight wore. He found a loophole to spare his life, and was dishonorable to his host in the process by breaking the vow and not telling him about the girdle given by the mistress. Sir Gawain “relies not on St. Mary but on a belt of supposed magical powers” (page 99). This shows the man's doubt in religion late in the story when fate is supposed to be there, displaying his want to live over being chivalrous and religious. He obviously was not courageous enough to face death and fate when he graciously took the belt, but his actions under the axe prove this and his lack of bravery even more so. Gawain flinched when the Green Knight delivered the first strike upon his head who missed purposely and showed weakness on Gawain’s part. The Knight teased the so-called idol of chivalry on this, saying “ ‘Call yourself good Sir Gawain?’ he goaded, ‘who faced down every foe in the field of battle but now flinches with the fear at the foretaste of harm. Never have I know such a knight”(2270-2273). Also, the knight of the Round Table disobeys even more codes of chivalry. He prays for shelter, exhibiting that he cannot survive by himself when looking for the Green Chapel. Normally, a hero can endure the outdoors without help, but Gawain lacks the strength to make it and is dependent on resources on his quest. Overall, Gawain might be portrayed as a hero in the Arthurian legend, but he is not as perfect as one might think as he will do anything it takes to live to see another

day.
Even though Gawain might be viewed as a chivalrous person, King Arthur is still his uncle whose claim to fame is greater. He is even closer to the perfect man for the old society than Sir Gawain. Arthur is the King of England, and the leader of the Round Table, but less connectable to the modern reader. Everything he does is perfect; it is not achievable for anyone who reads the Arthurian legends and his sacrifices might be hard to commit to. Meanwhile, Gawain is more and amicable realistic since he desires to live. The knight has some self serving reasons that drives how he acts. He flinches when in the face of death, enjoys the company of others, and dependent on shelter. Sir Gawain is flawed like the modern reader, which makes him more accessible than somebody portrayed without flaws and who rules a country.
Overall, The protagonist in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight shows how he is reputed to the code of chivalry, but also how he fails to completely live his life by it. Gawain is intertwined to the modern reader since he shares the same egoistic ideas as them, while King Arthur is too good for the modern society. Regardless of his mistakes, the worthy adventurer is still one of the King's most loyal companions and will be remembered in the Arthurian legends.