Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Literary Analysis

Defined as an agreement between two or more parties, a covenant represents a formal and binding obligation.
In the Bible, God orchestrates a variety of covenants, both with the Israelites and with current believers. Old Testament covenants predominately rely on strict rule-following, thus leading to an extremely legalistic implementation. Conversely, the covenant of the New Testament, promising redemption to those who put their faith in Christ, relies heavily on serving the spirit of the law, rather than strictly adhering to the letter of the law. In the poem “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” covenants of varying forms play an integral role, specifically in the actions of Sir Gawain. Throughout the narrative, Gawain willingly submits himself

to three different covenants, and in doing so, practices both the letter of the law and the spirit of the law.
First, before his escapades even begin, Gawain makes a covenant with himself to follow the laws of chivalry and display them to the best of his ability.

Ingrained into the very nature of knighthood, chivalry encompasses values such as courage, loyalty, bravery, and valor. Generally, Gawain does a formidable job of devoting himself to the virtues of chivalry. When the Green Knight originally enters Camelot, he presents his challenge to the entire group. Gathering no response, he taunts the knights of Camelot, scoffing, “Where’s the fortitude and fearlessness you’re so famous for?” (“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” 144). As the King of Camelot, this insult wounds Arthur’s pride, compelling him to rise and accept the challenge. However, due to his chivalrous nature, Gawain intercedes, claiming, “Such a foolish affair is unfitting for a king…” (“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” 145). Loyal to King Arthur, Gawain recognizes that his covenant of chivalry requires him to protect his leader. Gawain’s commitment to chivalry also benefits him in warding off the seduction of the Host’s wife. During the “Exchange of Winnings,” the Host’s wife uses a variety of methods to tempt Gawain into sin. On the last day of Gawain’s stay at the castle, the narrator states, “For that noble princess pushed him and pressed him, nudged him ever nearer to a limit where he needed to allow her love or impolitely reject it” (“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” 173). Yet because of his commitment to purity

and to chivalry as a whole, he manages to avoid sin with the woman, consistently turning her away with as much courtesy as possible. In this way, due to his commitment to chivalry, Gawain maintains his purity with the woman. Overall, the commitment Gawain makes to chivalrous living requires him to live by the spirit of the law. Friendship, purity, loyalty, and other such aspects of chivalry do not contain a list of rules to follow, but rather unwritten guidelines by which to abide. Thus, by adhering to the spirit of the law, Sir Gawain fulfills his covenant of knighthood and chivalry remarkably well.
Next, as an act of loyalty to his king, Gawain forms a covenant with the Green Knight. Classified as “The Beheading Game,” the agreement stipulated that Gawain had the opportunity to strike the Green Knight with one swing of an axe and would have the favor returned in exactly one year and one day. Despite the Green Knight’s use of the word “game,” he specifically uses the language of the law to coerce Gawain into an obligatory agreement. To make the covenant formal and binding, Gawain states his name and repeats the promise, saying “Gawain is my name. I heave this axe, and whatever happens after, in twelvemonth’s time I’ll be struck in return with any weapon you wish, and by you and you alone” (“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” 145). Throughout the majority of the poem, this variation of a covenant reflects the “letter of the law” enforcement found in the Old Testament. Even though the Green Knight fools Gawain into their agreement by not revealing his herculean abilities, he fully expects Gawain to stay true to his word. Meanwhile, Gawain, knowing full well that obeying the letter of the law will lead to death, establishes that he will follow through on his covenant, no matter the personal cost. In the last portion of the poem, however, the covenant of “The Beheading Game” shifts from strict judgement to an offer of mercy from the Green Knight. Rather than condemn Gawain for his failure to relinquish the “magical” green girdle, the Green Knight chooses to forgive Gawain after he confesses his shortcoming. This act of forgiveness and mercy mirrors the grace of the spirit of the law found in the New Testament, the love and redemption shown by Christ Jesus. Therefore, “The Beheading Game” covenant draws upon both the strict letter of the law and the gracious spirit of the law.
Finally, Gawain forges a covenant with the Host of the castle, Bertilak de Hautdesert titled the “Exchange of Winnings.” Under this covenant, the Host stipulates that he will lead hunts in the woods for the upcoming three days, while Gawain remains in the castle.

Whatever creatures the Host may slay, he agrees to bequeath to Gawain, while whatever Gawain acquires in the castle, he agrees to bestow upon the Host. By this covenant, Gawain chooses to succumb to both the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. By the strict letter of the law, Gawain must hand over everything he has procured throughout his day at the castle. However, though the Host does not explicitly forbid his guest from holding back his winnings, by the spirit of the law, Gawain commits to showing honesty and integrity. Ultimately, this covenant leads to Gawain’s lapse in judgement—taking the green girdle to save his very life. Despite the grace shown to him by the Host of the castle, Gawain clings to the letter of the law, unable to accept his sin and release himself from it. Therefore, the noble knight elects to wear the green girdle for the rest of his life as a symbol of his sin. Upon his return to Camelot, Gawain exposes his sin, saying, “Regard…a sign of my fault and offence and failure, of the cowardice and covetousness I came to commit” (“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” 188). In this act, Gawain refuses to accept the grace and mercy of the spirit of the law and instead chooses to bind himself

to the letter of the law. Therefore, the covenant of the “Exchange of Winnings” follows both the spirit of the law and the letter of the law.
Throughout the entire poem, Gawain binds himself to many covenants. By adhering to the letter of the law, he keeps his promise to the Green Knight, fulfilling everything expected of him. Yet by failing to accept the grace of the spirit of the law,