Examples Of Courtesy In Sir Gawain

The Knights of the Round Table and King Arthur in Sir Gawain are known around the nearby country for being the bravest and most courageous knights in all of their lands, who also show courtesy. There are two types of courtesy: true courtesy, and false courtesy. True courtesy is courtesy directed toward others and, false courtesy is directed toward self. How does Sir Gawain articulate the true nature of courtesy? Sir Gawain shows courtesy in many occasions. One example of true courtesy is when Sir Gawain is stepping up to take King Arthur’s place while having to make him appear so he does not seem like a coward and, one example of false courtesy is when King Arthur takes up the Green Knight’s unwise Christmas game to avoid the shame of looking

One example of true courtesy was when the Green Knight walked into the hall and told King Arthur about the Christmas game. King Arthur was shammed into it because he did not want to look bad in front of his wife and, the Knights of the Round Table because during King Arthur’s time period it was very bad to be considered a coward. The narrator goes through the confrontation thoroughly “Sir, you are welcome in my house, for I am Arthur and I rule this court. Step from your horse and stay, let me pray you…No, not fighting down: believe me, prince. These benches are filled with beardless infants…Rise so boldly, so fierce, so wild, and give a blow and take a blow…he reared like a lord. And yelped, and laughed, and said: ‘hah! Is this Arthur’s house hailed across the world that fabled court... Arthur winced, his fair face flooded hot with shame and his cheeks flared as angry as wind, and all his people burned. And the bold king strode toward the green Knight...Gawain was seated near the queen; he leaned forward: “Hear me, my lord. Let this challenge be mine” (ln. 251-322, p.64-66). King Arthur is being shamed in many occasions during this confrontation two things that were to try and infuriate the king were the Green Knights calls King Arthur a prince and, when he calls the Knights beardless infants. True Courtesy is shown here when Sir Gawain takes up the challenge to protect his

When Sir Gawain is with the lord of the castle’s wife, on the third day after trying to seduce him, she offers him some of her personal belongings but Sir Gawain refuses all but one. Sir Gawain accepts a magical belt to try and be polite to the wife by accepting her gift but inside he wants to use it so he is not killed by the Green Knights axe, as the narrator states: “She offered a red gold ring, richly worked, set with a dazzling stone that shone like the sun-a gift suitable for the ransom of kings. But Gawain refused it…’then be less in my debt, but take by belt, neither as costly nor as good’…’for any man bound with this belt, this green lace locked around him, can never be killed, here under God’s on heaven- no blow, no trick, nothing can hurt him ’Gawain hesitated, his heart reached for protection, like a thief for a gem: He could come to that chapel, take that struck, and with this glorious device walk off unharmed” (ln.1817-1859, p.112-113). Sir Gawain is about to do the right thing in this scene but he knows that he could go unharmed if this magic belt is really magic. Gawain should not have even had her in his room for five minutes, he should have told her that he would meet up with her during lunch but his heart could not avoid the temptation. True courtesy and false courtesy are very important but if you do not use prudence to