Power in Apperance

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, by the Pearl Poet, begins as a story about King Arthur’s court and The Knights of the Round Table, but soon transforms into a story of love, temptation, and power. The story starts with an image of the court and a giant green stranger comes in and challenges the group of men and the king stepped up at the same time giving his life away. To save the royal King, Sir Gawain offers to take the challenge from the King and risk his own life, the rest of the story is a tale of one knight fighting to sustain his chivalrous code and the author paints a vivid picture of his high stature and respect. Sir Gawain positively represents the chivalry and high recognition of King Arthur’s Court.

The Green Knight upon his arrival called the court the best, strong, chivalrous and at the same time hinted towards their high recognition. This stranger to all in the court first challenges them to a fair trade and says, “I have not come to linger long, but because your praises so highly sung, Sir, and because your knights are reputed the best.”(Sir Gawain…, 2006, P 10) the Green Knight calls the knights the best says their praises are sung but then challenges them, “Here is shown chivalry or so I am told, and it simply which brings me here now.”(Sir Gawain…, 2006, P 10). The challenge, not only challenged their code of chivalry, but their lives by offering to cut off his head then he will repay the cut a year later, seems dangerous but because of Sir Gawain’s sacrifice the court sent him off a year later proclaiming his bravery.

The court sent Sir Gawain to find the Green Knight in a suit showing high ranking and importance. The armor with the pentangle containing the code of chivalry not only p...

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...in fine cloths. “He put on his magnificent cloths his topcoat with its emblem of the clearest design emblazoned in velvet, with precious stones set and sewn into it, embroidered at the seams and elegantly edged with most beautiful furs. But he didn’t forget the girdle.”(Sir Gawain…, 2006, P 64) The story continues and the hero does not die to the headless Green Knight with his swing or anything to the reader’s knowledge.

Sir Gawain certainly does signify the chivalry and high respect of King Arthur’s Court. Upon entering the Court, the Green Knight called the court the best. Sir Gawain was treated as royalty among his colleagues and strangers, on top of being welcomed in to a castle of strangers and holding his ground when tempted by The Green Knights Wife. The Knights of the round table, though they were average people where rightly treated as royalty.