Sir Gawain and The Green Knight - The Character of Sir Gawain In Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, the character of Sir Gawain is skillfully brought to life by the unknown author. Through the eyes of numerous characters in the poem, we see Gawain as a noble knight who is the epitome of chivalry; he is loyal, honest and above all, courteous. As the story progresses, Gawain is subjected to a number of tests of character, some known and some unknown. These tests tell us a great deal about Gawain's character and the struggles he faces internally. I will explore the various places in the poem where we learn about Gawain, either through others or through the tests he faces. By the end of the poem, we sense that we have come to know Gawain and have ventured a peek at his human side. However, we also realize that nothing short of perfection is acceptable to him. Our first glimpse of Gawain occurs when the Green Knight suddenly appears at the New Year's celebration at Camelot. He offers a challenge for anyone to come forward and strike him with his ax. Twelve months and a day later, he will return the blow. No one steps forward to accept the dare. Embarrassed by his knights' lack of response, King Arthur accepts the challenge himself. At the fateful moment when Arthur is about to strike the blow, Gawain jumps up and says: Would you grant me the grace, To be gone from this bench and stand by you there, If I without discourtesy might quit this board,... I am the weakest, well I know, and of wit feeblest; And the loss of my life would be least of any; That I have you for uncle is my only praise; My body, but for your blood, is barren of worth; And for that this folly befits not a king, And 'tis I that have asked it, it ought to be mine, And if my claim be not comely let all this court judge, in sight. Norton, 209 In this first meeting, through Gawain's own words, we begin to see him as the noble knight he is. Gawain has cleverly chosen his most courteous words to release Arthur from this predicament and restore the reputation of the knights of the Round Table. We cannot imagine a more courageous action than Gawain offering his life for his king nor a more polite offer to take the game. We are able to draw further clues about Gawain's character from the description of his armoring when he sets out a year later to meet the Green Knight. In this passage, we learn that Gawain's shield has gold pentangle on it. The author tells us the pentangle "is proper to that peerless prince" because it is a "token of truth," and he is most true to his word and a "most courteous knight." (Norton, 215) He goes on to say: The fifth of the five fives followed by this knight Were beneficence boundless and brotherly love And pure mine and manners, that none might impeach, And compassion most precious--these peerless five Were forged and made fast in him, foremost of men. Norton, 215-216 We have no reason to disbelieve the author nor his praise of Gawain. Our next chance to understand Gawain occurs at Bercilak's castle where the household is overjoyed that the holiday guest is Gawain of King Arthur's court. They whisper to each other that Gawain has "courage ever-constant, and customs pure," he is "the father of fine manners," and his "displays of deportment" will dazzle their eyes. (Norton, 221) Through these words we see that Gawain is generally well respected for these characteristics; it is not just his fellow knights who feel this way. At this castle Gawain undergoes many tests of character, yet he is unaware that he is being tested. An unknown test is perhaps the best test there is, since the individual cannot prepare for it. Bercilak's wife tries to seduce Gawain, but he is able to dodge her advances with clever defenses. On the first day after being told she would marry him if she could he says, "You are bound to a better man, yet I prize the praise you have proffered me here." (Norton, 228) On the second day, the author tells us "Thus she tested his temper and tried many a time, whatever her true intent, to entice him to sin, but so fair was his defense that no fault appeared." (Norton, 234) As the days progress, we see how increasingly difficult it becomes for Sir Gawain. We read: So uncommonly kind and complaisant was she, With sweet stolen glances, that stirred his stout heart, That he was at his wits' end, and wondrous vexed; But he could not rebuff her, for courtesy forbade. Norton, 236 Throughout these tests, the author allows us to glimpse what Gawain is thinking, and we see that he sometimes works hard at being courteous and loyal. These scenes give us insight into how hard he tries to be as perfect as possible. A lesser man would have easily given in, yet Gawain holds himself to a higher standard. One the third day of the bargain, Gawain does not fare so well. We are told that Bercilak's wife Made so plain her meaning, the man must needs Either take her tendered love or distastefully refuse. His courtesy concerned him, lest crass he appear, but more his soul's mischief, should he commit sin and belie his loyal oath to the lord of that house. Norton, 238 He is successful at avoiding her continuing advances. However, Gawain is concentrating so hard on being courteous and remaining true to Bercilak that he is tricked into taking a girdle of green silk from her and thus betraying Bercilak. She persuades him to accept the girdle and keep it a secret by telling him that if he wears the girdle "no hand under heaven...could hew him down, for he could not be killed by any craft on earth." (Norton, 240) That night he does not tell Bercilak of the gift. With this simple omission, he has betrayed his host, lied to him, and compromised his own standards. On the way to the Green Chapel, there is yet another test, and Gawain passes it easily. His guide offers him a last chance to avoid his meeting with the Green Knight. Gawain answers that if he were a coward, he could not be excused. He must go to the Chapel to test his luck for "The Lord is strong to save: his servants trust in him." (Norton, 246) It is this never-ending quest to do what is right that enables us still to feel good about Gawain even after we know he has been untrue. Finally Gawain arrives at the Green Chapel and faces the Green Knight for the return blow. The Green Knight explains that he is Bercilak, and he has been testing Gawain all along. Gawain is embarrassed and reacts uncharacteristically brusquely. The Green Knight says, "She made trial of a man most faultless by far of all that ever walked over the wide earth" and "Yet you lacked, sir, a little in loyalty there, but the cause was not cunning, nor courtship either, but that you loved your own life; the less, then, to blame. (Norton, 250) It doesn't matter to Gawain that the Green Knight forgives him or understands why he did what he did. In his own eyes, he has failed. In conclusion, through the Green Knight's tests, we see that Gawain is not the perfect knight he strives to be. Neither we, nor the Green Knight, nor his fellow knights of the Round Table hold him to this standard of perfection. We read about the turmoil Gawain experiences thinking about his impending death at the hands of the Green Knight, and we understand why he accepts the girdle. We know he remains true until his fear of death overcomes him. All this proves he is only human. Yet Gawain only sees that he has been inconsistent in upholding the chivalric code, and this means failure to him. This is an indication of the standard Gawain has set for himself, and we see why he has the reputation he has. Despite all that has happened, Gawain is still a loyal, noble, honest and courteous knight. Works Cited Abrams, M. H. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1993.
Over the course of the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain faced situations that influenced his character which can be taken and analyzed for a teenager today. A teenager typically faces the issue of blending in and accepting who they are in high school, and by viewing Gawain’s experiences and changes, we can use it to adapt along with our peers in school. Initially, he is seen as a humble and unpopular knight amongst every other at the round table in Camelot. However this changes after engaging in a violent game with the Green Knight. Gawain gained fame over the course of a year, and as a result it had changed his initial outlook on his loyalty to the chivalric code, as well as his values on life.
Although Arthur’s knights are initially reluctant to come forward and accept the Green Knight’s challenge, Gawain eventually comes forward; “Said Gawain to the king, ‘If you would, noble lord, bid me rise from my seat and stand at your side (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 145, ll. 343-344).” Gawain again shows chivalrous characteristics by being both courteous and honorable. He courteously comes forward to accept Arthur’s place, seeing as how he is the king. Also he steps forward to defend the honor of all the knights present. As the Green Knight was tarnishing it during his entrance speech. He then expresses the utmost humility while coming forward: “ I am the weakest of them, I know, and the dullest-minded, So my death would be least loss, if truth should be told; (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 146, ll. 354-355).” Even though he was the only one to step forward and take up the Green Knights challenge, he still refuses to give himself any sort of special credit, even though he may deserve it for being so
Gawain is devastated by his weakness and lack of honor and cowardice revealed by his hiding the green girdle from the master. He begins to repent and chastise himself for his failings. This reveals his human weakness that is in all of us. He is very humbled by his behavior (133).
Sir Gawain encounters many hardships on his journey. He is put in many situations that tempt him to break the chivalric code and he tries his best not to break it. His chivalry is truly tested.
Gawain’s behaviour is not looked upon as modest by others in the court, but rather disreputable. The D...
Gawain is like a simple human. Yes, he is a knight on the round table. But he shows so many characteristics that we show today. He does show a lot of chivalry, but when something comes along that he wants he breaks the code. We as humans do the same thing nowadays.
He holds his responsibilities to God as his number one priority. Critic Tison Pugh explains, “Games and play--those of the Arthurian court, of the Green Knight, and of Christianity--advance the narrative so that Gawain displays his virtuous identity through his pentangle shield and armor; the godgame of the Green Knight (the beheading game and the exchange game) and the godgame of Christianity (the rules of the pentangle).” These are all hidden symbols of Gawain’s devout Christian faith. Tison Pugh also allows us to understand that the main role the Green Knight plays is to, “force Gawain to confront his personal limitations and to gain a better understanding of his place within a Christian world.” He plays this role sneakily, but Gawain remains faithful almost always. This is quite impressive due to all the temptations he faced. We realize from Tison Pugh’s exquisite commentary that the moral of this entire story is “...perfection is a rule that can never be maintained in a fallen world.” No matter how hard anyone tries, even the noblest of knights, there is no way to be completely perfect. When Gawain met the Green Knight to compete in the second portion of the challenge, where the knight would have his chance to behead Gawain, the Green Knight spares his life and only nicks his neck. When Gawain questions this odd situation, the Green Knight reveals that he was the lord from the castle, and his wife’s
In the medieval poems Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, written by an anonymous, depicts a vital character called Sir Gawain. He is a young knight who portrays bravery, nobility and chivalry. It shows the growth and his ability to loyally practice the ‘chivalrous code,’ which is indirectly compared with another noble knight, Sir Lancelot in the tale Le Morte d ‘Arthur and highlighted during the opening of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. He is a dynamic character who possess bravery, nobility and chivalry, and in doing so these characteristics enables the poem to take upon the task of showing the different spectrums of ‘knighthood’ and comparing them to the other knights.
In this part Sir Gawain is portrayed as poised, fearless, and selfish. First, Sir Gawain is portrayed as poised because when he arrives at the Green Chapel it looks like the devil lives there. When Gawain sees the Green Chapel he heard “On the hill, behind a hard rock, Beyond the brook, from the bank, a most barbarous din” ( Borroff l. 297-8). This shows that Gawain is poised because he see that the castle is scary and hears a very frightening sound yet the sound doesn’t faze him, keeps his poise, and continues on. Secondly, Gawain is fearless because he followed through with the challenge and let fate control him. Gawin says “Let God work! Ah me! All hope of help has fled Forfeit my life may be But noise I do not dread.” (Borroff l. 440) This shows that Gawain is fearless and will accept his fate. Lastly, Gawain is portrayed as selfish, according to the Green knight.. The Green Knight says “But that you loved your own life; the less than, to blame.” This quote shows that Gawain is selfish because he took the girdle besides obeying what Lord Bertilak says they will do. Overall in the last part of the poem Sir Gawain shows his true traits which are that he is poised, fearless, and
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.
In the poem "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," Gawain is a guest at Hautdesert Castle. During his stay at the castle, three separate hunts take place. These hunts also parallel temptations aimed at Gawain by the wife of the Lord of Hautdesert Castle. In each hunt scene, a characteristic of the prey of that hunt is personified in Gawain's defense against the advances of the Lord's wife.
This all starts with the bargain that Bercilak makes with Sir Gawain. "That whatever I win in the woods be yours, and any achievement you chance on here, you exchange for it" (pg. 62). This is what sets the stage for the coming scenes of Bercilak's hunts in the woods, Gawain's temptations by the Lady of Bercilak, and the three blows exchanged by the Green Knight. Unknown to Gawain is that Bercilak's three hunts and the three temptations of the Lady is what decides the fate of the outcome of his meeting with the Green Knight.
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
Gawain is in good spirits, and a year later he stumbles the home of Lord and Lady Bertilak on his way to fulfill his end of the bargain. Lord Bertilak insists that Gawain stay and enjoy whatever he finds on his hunt, on the condition that Gawain gives him whatever h...
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