Medieval Europe was a time known for its problem of instability in both moral or socio-political nature. One attempt to bring order and security to the chaotic period of medieval Europe was establishment of Medieval Feudalism, the dominant social system during this era. This social system brought along the development of diverse strategies, codes of behavior and morality, and institutional structures that sought to stabilize this period. It brought back a sense of order in a time of chaos. However, people and various factors sought to destabilize and undermine attempts to resolve these issues. It brought back a sense of order in a time of chaos. In the novel Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Feudalism is demonstrated through chivalry, but it’s …show more content…
ideals are challenged. Sir Gawain’s chivalric code is tested by Lady Bertilak, and his ability to succeed reinforces the idea of how important Feudalism was to restore order and security during this disorderly period. The establishment of Feudalism brought along chivalry, a much needed code of conduct to bring order and stability to the chaotic period of medieval Europe. What is Feudalism and how did it come to be? Feudalism is a political/military system based on a mutual contract between feudal lords and less powerful noble vassals. The vassals would offer their loyalty and military service for fief and protection from their lord. The origins of Feudalism trace back to “the large-scale division of Charlemagne’s Empire into three parts in the ninth century that led to a decentralization of power at the local level” (UWS, 234). This meant that kings such as “Charlemagne and his predecessors relied on the nobles to help wage wars of expansion and suppress rebellions, and in return these families were given a share of the lands and riches confiscated by rulers” (UWS, 264). To put it in simpler terms, a vassal would generally be given a piece of land in return for his loyalty and military services, which is a representation of Feudalism. Feudalism also provided some degree of organization in a society that lacked a proper government bureaucracy or method of taxation. Vassals actually functioned as a way to organize political authority because “vassals owed administrative as well as military service to their lords” (UWS, 235). Some duties of the vassals were to serve as advisers to their lord and also to pay their lords fees for any important family events, such as the marriage of the vassal’s children. Fiefs did not only involve knights and Lords, but as well as clergies for their spiritual services or promises of allegiance. Churches also held their “own lands, and bishops, archbishops, and abbots and abbesses of monasteries that sometimes granted fiefs to their own knightly vassals” (UWS, 235). This created a sense of institution because this feudal relationship almost represented a small government bureaucracy that involved taxation and other government functions. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight portrays life as a feudal nobility.
The aspect of feudalism and chivalry are challenged by outside forces that wish to strike down these ideals. The novel follows the journey of Sir Gawain, who demonstrates chivalry and honour by defending his lord, King Arthur, from the Green Knight. In Camelot on New Year’s Day, King Arthur gathers the righteous lords of the round table and all of his noble knights and ladies of his court to exchange gifts and enjoy a feast. However, a Green Knight appears and challenges the knights of the round table to a friendly “Christmas game” in which someone is to strike him once with his axe on the condition that the Green Knight may return the blow in a year and a day. King Arthur prepares to take up his challenge, but, Sir Gawain interrupts and says “should you call me, courteous lord, to rise from my seat and stand at your side, politely take leave of my place at the table and quit without causing offence to my queen, then I shall come to your counsel before this great court” (Gawain, 43). Sir Gawain shows feudalism to his lord by taking up the dangerous challenge that was set before his lord. As the knight and faithful vassal of King Arthur, it is his duty to “faithfully counsel and aid his lord, if he wishes to be looked upon as worthy of his benefice and to be safe concerning the fealty which he has sworn” (Fulbert of Chartres). It is Sir Gawain’s duty to show honor and bravery by defending his king. However, …show more content…
this challenge by the Green Knight will test Sir Gawain’s code of chivalry. Chivalry is tested when Sir Gawain sets off to find the Green Knight as promised. As a noble knight, chivalry is one of the most important traits that Sir Gawain must practice and keep. Chivalry is “a code of conduct in which fighting to defend the Christian faith and protecting one’s countrymen were declared to have a sacred purpose. Other qualities gradually became part of chivalry: bravery, generosity, honor, graciousness, mercy, and eventually gallantry toward women, which came to be called “courtly love” (UWS, 253). Before Sir Gawain sets off to find the Green Knight, he is given his shield that has five pentacles, each representing the five virtues of the knight: friendship, generosity, chastity, courtesy, and piety. These chivalrous virtues will be tested when he reaches Sir Bertilak’s castle. Sir Gawain and Sir Bertilak demonstrate a feudal relationship. Since Gawain is Bertilak’s guest, Bertilak says “you have sworn to serve me, whatever I instruct. Will you hold to that oath right here and now” (Gawain, 93). The two agree to a wager: Sir Bertilak will give Gawain whatever he catches on the condition that Gawain give him whatever he might gain during the day. Gawain happily accepts this offer and one the first morning, he is approached by Guinevere who attempts to seduce him. As a knight, he says to Guinevere, “I’ll contentedly attend whatever task you set, and in serving your desires I shall seek your mercy, which seems my best plan, in the circumstances” (Gawain, 103)! Gawain faces a moral dilemma here. As a noble knight, it is his duty to be courteous and polite to ladies, but at the same time he has to be honorable by not betraying the trust of Sir Bertilak, who has been so generous to him. Gawain continues to rebuff her advances; “that lovely looking maid, she charmed him and she chased. But every move she made he countered, case by case” (Gawain, 105). This honest exchange of gifts between Gawain and Bertilak continue until the last day. Gawain breaks his chivalric code on the last day. During the final morning, Guinevere offers Gawain a series of gifts. He refuses the gold ring offered to him as a keepsake, but accepts a green girdle that is said to be enchanted with pagan magic that will keep him from physical harm. Since this was a gift given to Gawain, he would be breaking the pact if he did not gift the green girdle to Lord Bertilak. Gawain keeps it for himself, thus breaking the promise he made to Bertilak. He heads off to fight the Green Knight, and the Green Knight reveals himself to be Bertilak. It is revealed that it wasn’t the green girdle that saved Gawain, but rather the Green Knight spared him. The act of Gawain trusting the green girdle to save his life is a symbol of the discord during this medieval period. Bertilak says, “it was loyalty you lacked: not because you’re wicked, or a womanizer, or worse, but you loved your own life; so I blame you less” (Gawain, 179). So ashamed of his actions, Gawain said “a curse upon cowardice and covetousness. They breed villainy and vice, and destroy all virtue. My downfall and undoing; let the devil take it. Dread of the death blow cowardly doubts meant I gave in to greed, and in doing so forgot the fidelity and kindness which every knight knows” (Gawain, 179). Gawain explains that by putting his faith in magic, he failed to lead a life of feudal nobility. He became a coward, greedy for his own sake and in doing so, forgot what loyalty and kindness meant. By confessing his sins, Bertilak pronounces him cleansed. Gawain brings the belt back to Camelot as a reminder of his failure. The Knights of the Round Table declare him guiltless and declare that every great knight should wear a green sash as a reminder to always be chivalrous. Feudalism was a social system in medieval Europe that attempted to quell social disorder and chaos.
The era of Feudalism brought along chivalry, a trait demonstrated by Sir Gawain in the novel Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Sir Gawain’s chivalric code of conduct is challenged by Lady Bertilak, but he is able to withstand by holding true to his virtues. However, Gawain fails when he is tempted with the green girdle that is enchanted with pagan magic. This represents the chaos during medieval Europe to which so many people fell victim too. In order to restore his chivalry and moral virtues, he had to repent his sins and look back to the Christian church for answers. By restoring his chivalric code of conduct, he is able to call himself a noble knight once more. Sir Gawain’s ability to restore his chivalric code represents how important of a factor Feudalism was to restore order and security to this chaotic
period.
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain shows qualities of a chivalrous knight. He demonstrates that by showing generosity, courtesy, and loyalty during his travels. A mysterious knight shows up at the king’s castle and calls himself the Green Knight. The Green Knight then challenges one to play a game which he challenges the king to strike him with his axe if he will take a return hit in a year and a day. Sir Gawain steps forward to accept the challenge for his uncle King Arthur when nobody else in the castle would. He took the King’s role in the game to protect him from the Green Knight. He must learn to accept his responsibility as a knight, in accepting his fate.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 cho...
8[8] Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Trans. Marie Borroff. Norton Anthology of British Literature Vol. 1, New York: WW Norton, 1993.
In the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by Poet Pearl, Sir Gawain, knight of the Round Table, acts chivalrously, yet his intents are insincere and selfish. It is the advent season in Middle Age Camelot, ruled by King Arthur when Poet Pearl begins the story. In this era citizens valued morals and expected them to be demonstrated, especially by the highly respected Knights of the Round Table. As one of Arthur’s knights, Sir Gawain commits to behaving perfectly chivalrous; however, Gawain falls short of this promise. Yes, he acts properly, but he is not genuine. The way one behaves is not enough to categorize him as moral; one must also be sincere in thought. Gawain desires to be valued as
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a fourteenth-century tale written by an anonymous poet, chronicles how Sir Gawain of King Arthur’s Round Table finds his virtue compromised. A noble and truthful knight, Gawain accepts the Green Knight’s challenge at Arthur’s New Years feast. On his way to the Green Chapel, Gawain takes shelter from the cold winter at Lord Bercilak’s castle. The lord makes an agreement with Gawain to exchange what they have one at the end of the day. During the three days that the lord is out hunting, his wife attempts to seduce Gawain. At the end of the story, it is revealed that Morgan le Faye has orchestrated the entire situation to disgrace the Knights of the Round Table by revealing that one of their best, Sir Gawain, is not perfect.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight takes its protagonist, the noble Gawain, through
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.
In the final scenes of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain’s encounter with Sir Bertilak allows Gawain to perceive his own flaws, manifested in his acceptance of the Green Girdle. The court’s reaction to his personal guilt highlights the disconnect between him and the other knights of the Round Table. Gawain’s behavior throughout the poem has been most noteworthy; his understanding of his sin, one that many of us would dismiss since it was propelled by his love of life, enhances his stature as a paragon of chivalry.
...Gawain’s time in the wilderness, living nature, and his acceptance of the lady’s offering of the green girdle teach him that though he may be the most chivalrous knight in the land, he is nevertheless human and capable of error.
In Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, our main character is faced with a challenge. A
Gawain’s acceptance of Lady Bertilak’s girdle causes him to progressively lose himself internally in order to save his physical life. Gawain appears to be the perfect image of a knight, who exhibits himself as worthy and noble when he accepts the Green Knight’s challenge. Known to be “honored all over the world,” his remarkable valor and devout behavior define his character. He loses his honorable reputation, though, when he disrespects the honor of King Bertilak. Disgracing his knightly code, Gawain fails to exchange all of his gifts with the king and lies, without hesitation, to the king when he claims that “what [he] owed [King Bertilak] [he has] paid [King Bertilak]” (1941). Gawain directly lies to him without hesitation, proving that his conscience does not seem to be effecting his actions. Lying is a common action, but generally, it causes us to feel remorseful and guilty over our wrongs. Gawain breaks the code of chivalry that requires a knight to be loyal and honest, but he is not regretful due to his apparent selfish nature (“Code of Chivalry, 2 and 15”). He makes a deal with the king to “[trade] profit for profit,” yet he dishonestly “[hides] [Lady Bertilak’s] love gift” rather than honoring the king’s wishes (1677, 1874). Gawain makes a promise that he fails to fulfill. The girdle drives him to destruction because it pulls him away from what he knows to be good and
Sir Gawain's inner values and character are tested to the fullest and are clearly defined in the text of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The unknown author describes Gawain and the other knights as "Many good knights" (Norton 159), and he is referred to as one of the "most noble knights" (Norton 159) in King Arthur's land. This claim by the author is solidified by a challenge presented by the evil Green Knight, who enters the court of King Arthur and asks him to partake in a Christmas game. Sir Gawain, after hearing this challenge, asks the king if he may take his place. This represents that Gawain is very loyal to his king. Sir Gawain is also an honest knight in the text because in a year's time he ventures out in search of the Green Knight to endure a blow with the ax as the rules of the game were stated. He very easily could have not have carried out his end of the bargain by not traveling to the Green Chapel to meet the evil being, but Gawain is an honest knight who is true to his word.
The story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight revolves around the knights and their chivalry as well as their romance through courtly love. The era in which this story takes place is male-dominated, where the men are supposed to be brave and honorable. On the other hand, the knight is also to court a lady and to follow her commands. Sir Gawain comes to conflict when he finds himself needing to balance the two by being honorable to chivalry as well as respectful to courtly love.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight fit in with the concept of a romance; it has all the elements that would make one consider the text as so. The tale holds adventure, magic, a quest and an unexpected reality check that even those who are considered “perfect” are also just humans. The author used this story as a way of revealing faults in some of the aspects of knighthood through the use of intertwining chivalric duty with natural human acts; thus showing to be perfectly chivalrous would be inhuman.
Sir Gawain and The Green Knight has prompted scholars to examine and diversely interpret the medieval narrative. One of the underlying questions that has been proposed embodies the analysis of the relationship between Christian and Pagan ideals and how knightly chivalry is influenced by religion during the Arthurian Romance period. It is no mistake that the two varied religious ideals are intertwined throughout the poem due to the nature of classical antiquity. Amidst the overlap between superstitious rituals and Orthodox- Christian beliefs it is clear that Sir Gawain has a sense of personal integrity guided by a moral compass.
After reading through the piece of literature Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, one will realize there are many elements present throughout that could be analyzed such as humility, chastity, and courage. It could be interpreted that the author meant for the main theme of the writing to be a theme of chastity. Although the element of chastity is present in that Sir Gawain is tested by many sexual temptations, the element of humility is one that is prominent and changing throughout the piece. Humility is apparent throughout the story in the way Sir Gawain displays false humility at the beginning, the way he keeps his humility during his stay at the castle, and the way he is truly learns humility after his challenges with the Green Knight are over.