Lady Bertilak's Chivalry In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

In the story, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain is faced with many challenges having to do with 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 things throughout the story, which leads us

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 each other. “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 and the Green Knight 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 any cunning of hand” (Sir Gawain 94). She knows of his fear of death and his recent nightmare, so she tells him that this girdle has magical powers and if he wears it no one will be able to kill him. This tricks him into taking her love token, but he leaves soon after; her plan