Sir Gawain: The Ideal Knight

Another example of Chiv... ... middle of paper ... ...h he should of just stayed loyal. Sir Bedivere in Morte d’ Arthur has trouble staying loyal to his beloved dying king. “My lord,” said Sir Bedivere, “ your commandment shall be done, and I shall lightly bring you word again.” (Morte d'Arthur, 21) The Knight abruptly informs the King that his wish will be fulfilled. As time passes his actions show his true colors, “Ah, traitor unto me and untrue,” said King Arthur, “now hast thou betrayed me twice.” (Morte d’Arthur, 25) In Medieval Literature, character traits love to be celebrated and judged. The knights Gawain and Sir Bedivere both truly buckled under pressure.

From childhood, we learn about gallant knights in shining armour who heroically save the damsel in distress on their brilliantly white horse. We believe these men to be good-hearted, moral, and emotionally sound. It is nearly sacrilegious to merely conceptualize a knight who is corrupt or evil in any way. Many of these ideals stem from the Knights of the Round Table, who withheld many of these beliefs and embodied all of these characteristics. Perhaps the sole creator of this "ideal" knight is King Arthur, for it is he who first laid down a set of marked commandments that he expected his knights to embody.

In Layamon’s Brut, an extended adaptation of Wace’s Roman de Brut, the morals, conduct, and bravery aforementioned are the quintessential characteristics of the good knight who is so faithful to King Arthur. The first time that the knight is mentioned in Layamon’s text he is described as a “…bold man on horseback…” (125). The description of the knight as bold suggests that he is a confident, brave man. He is also referred to as “…a good knight…” which implies that he is respectable and kind-hearted (Layamon 125). The first words that this good knight speaks are to King Arthur and he asks, “My Lord, how did you get on last night” (Layamon 125).

New York: Norton 1993 202-254 "The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell." In Middle English Verse Romances. Ed. Donald B. Sands. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1966.

Despite, both movies portraying Arthur's character differently, there are some similarities that are present in both movies, as in his personality, his strong attraction towards Guinevere, and his belief that everyone should be treated equally. Taking a wider perspective of the movie King Arthur, one can observe that Arthur is a fearless man who is not afraid to stand his ground even if it is not his own fight. After returning home to Rome, Lancelot gets into an intense discussion with Arthur, insisting that he should not stay and fight against the Saxon as it is not his fight neither Rome's. Regardless of, Lancelot’s persistence for Arthur to stay, he refuses to listen and rather tells him,“Seize the freedom you have earned and live it for the both of us” (King Arthur). Although, Arthur could have departed and seek freedom with his knights he voluntarily decides to stay and fight against the Saxons himself from invading into Britain.

The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 6th ed. Vol. 1. Eds.

Fare thee well, lord. I would not be the villain that thou think’st for the whole space that’s in the tyrant’s grasp and the rich East to boot.” Act 4 Sc3 this shows Macduff’s feelings about the situation of Macbeth being king. Macduff does not want to see the country of Scotland suffer, and he is showing his loyalty to king Duncan by going to his son Malcolm the person who should be king. As with Macbeth the title of king is of more importance than a friend who he has been in battle with and is as his right hand man. “My noble partner you greet with present grace and great prediction of noble having and of royal hope,…” Act 1 Sc 3 this is of Banquo talking about Macbeth as these are traveling along together.

Utopia, Book 2. Norton Anthology of English Literature, Seventh Edition, Volume 1B. W.W Norton and Company. New York. 2000 pg.

Of their time together, it is said, “great peril attends that meeting should Mary forget her knight.” (Gawain poet 2029) It is a godly man who has his prayers answered. Gawain illustrates his valiant belief code by stepping in for his uncle, King Arthur. He refuses to let Arthur participate in the Green Knight’s beheading game. He knew the king was not someone who was expendable. He says to King Arthur, “I beseech, before all here, that this melee may be mine.” “And the loss of my life would be the least of any”.

The importance placed upon the idea of honor allows Hal to assume his rightful position beside the King, while Falstaff dims into the background. Falstaff’s idea of honor is directly linked to his sense of time itself. In the opening lines of his speech, Falstaff says,"‘Tis not due yet: I would be loath to pay him before his day." (L. 127-8) In this example, God is being related by Falstaff to someone who has set a schedule determining the time and place of everyone’s death. For Falstaff, one’s role in life is not to stray from the path created by that higher Power.