The Importance Of Chivalry In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

In a the story, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain is faced with many challenges. Many of the challenges have to do with him trying to maintain his chivalry. Part of him maintaining his chivalry is to stay loyal; he should not give in to Lady Bertilak, who is constantly pursuing him, but should also listen to what she tells him to do. During Gawain 's stay at Bertilak’s castle, Lord Bertilak suggests they play a game in which they will have to exchange the winnings they gained that day. In the end, the story tells us that Lady Bertilak had been following the instructions her husband had given her to try to trick Gawain into not staying true to his word during the game they played. However, Lady Bertilak did many unnecessary and sexual

As the attacks got deeper there were more kisses in return. She starts off by attacking his reputation of chivalry. “The prowess and the excellence that all others approve, if I scorned or decried them it were scant courtesy”(Sir Gawain 71). He is surprised that she would attack his reputation, but he knows what people truly think of him, so it did not hurt him too bad. That first day she kisses him once. The second day, Lady Bertilak attacks his knowledge of chivalry. “Sir, if you are Wawain, a wonder I think it that a man so well-meanin, ever mindful of good, yet cannot comprehend the customs of the gentle” (Sir Gawain 80). In this passage Lady Bertilak questions the knowledge of the rules that Gawain has been living by his entire life; questions his self identity. Sir Gawain explains why he refused the offer of her body the previous day, but it had broken his chivalry because he is supposed to be loyal to Lady Bertilak, which is why this was more of an attack than the previous day. After his explanation she kissed him once and then one more time before she left. On the third day, Lady Bertilak attacks his fear of death, which hurts him more than she knows because of the nightmare he had about the Green Knight killing him. Lady Bertilak can tell how much much this has hurt him and again kisses him, but this time she kisses him three

On Gawain’s final day in the castle with Lady Bertilak she offers him a ring. “A rich ring she offered him of red gold fashioned, with a stone like a star standing up clear that bore brilliant beams as bright as the sun: I warrant you it was worth wealth beyond measure” (Sir Gawain 93). The ring represents even more than just high monetary value. It represents endless and limitless love and commitment two people have for eachother. “It is also clear that the lady who gives the ring in the tales is often romantically linked with the hero. In this way, Lady Bertilak 's offer of the ring implicitly casts Gawain and herself as lovers, fitting well with her earlier attempts at seduction. Gawain may not accept the ring because of its costliness, but also because it is a clear token of love” (Cooke 5). Gawain does not want commitment with Lady Bertilak, or a relationship at all, so he claims that it is worth too much money and declines it. Lady Bertilak is still desperately trying to get him to love her and it is not working out. In her last attempt to give him anything, she gives him her girdle. “If to my ring you say nay… I shall give you my girdle” (Sir Gawain 94). He says no at first but then she tells him that “For whoever goes girdled with this green riband, while he keeps it well clasped closely about him, there is none so hardly under heaven that to hew him were able; for he could not be killed by