The Depth of Sir Gawain’s Character

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, written in fourteenth century, highlights the character in the knights of that era, specifically Sir Gawain. Sir Gawain is seen as a knight who takes pride in more than just his work, but also in his character. He debates on his own character on whether or not he is fulfilling the role of a true and faithful knight or the role of a knight with chivalry, like the others. What it means to be a faithful knight to Sir Gawain differs from the perspective of other knights in the court, and through his journey he discovers why. Sir Gawain, forced to examine his own character, realizes what it means to have a desire to be humble and faithful, leading to a change in his character.

When approached by the Green Knight, Sir Gawain encounters a stretch in character. The Green Knight, not invited to King Arthur’s party, made an entrance the court would never forget. They were, “celebrating in style: not a care in the world.” (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, 2006, p.4) His arrival not only caused a shock to the King and his court, but he advised a challenge to the knight who would accept it. Sir Gawain was the only knight who took the life threatening challenge. The court, full of supposedly chivalrous knights, did not take pride in the court and the King, but rather in themselves. The dilemma, then, was whether or not Sir Gawain would be fulfilling the role of a chivalrous knight when he was taking part in such a distinct situation compared to any of the other knights. “Most noble knights were afraid to respond, so stunned by his voice that they stayed there stock-still in an eerie silence which filled the great hall. Their voices were as silent as if they had fallen asleep.” (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, ...

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...d failing that I have succumbed to out of the cowardice and greed that I displayed there.” (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, 2006, p. 78) Sir Gawain was more of a knight than the others in the court because he showed honesty within brokenness, not fake and “picture perfect”.

The character of Sir Gawain is altered and strengthened. He broke the mold of what it was to be a knight for King Arthur and set an example of what it genuinely meant: to be honest and brave, to be confident in who he served and why he served, but not prideful, and to be willing to fight faithfully and strive for excellence on behalf of the King and the pride he took in his court. Sir Gawain embraces opportunities that not only enforces an examination of character and realization of differences wanted and unwanted, but also awareness of humiliation and the desire to be ultimately faithful.