In a the story, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain is faced with many challenges. Many of the challenges have to do with him trying to maintain 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 …show more content…
As the attacks got deeper there were more kisses in return. She starts off by attacking his reputation of chivalry. “The prowess and the excellence that all others approve, if I scorned or decried them it were scant courtesy”(Sir Gawain 71). He is surprised that she would attack his reputation, but he knows what people truly think of him, so it did not hurt him too bad. That first day she kisses him once. The second day, Lady Bertilak attacks his knowledge of chivalry. “Sir, if you are Wawain, a wonder I think it that a man so well-meanin, ever mindful of good, yet cannot comprehend the customs of the gentle” (Sir Gawain 80). In this passage Lady Bertilak questions the knowledge of the rules that Gawain has been living by his entire life; questions his self identity. Sir Gawain explains why he refused the offer of her body the previous day, but it had broken his chivalry because he is supposed to be loyal to Lady Bertilak, which is why this was more of an attack than the previous day. After his explanation she kissed him once and then one more time before she left. On the third day, Lady Bertilak attacks his fear of death, which hurts him more than she knows because of the nightmare he had about the Green Knight killing him. Lady Bertilak can tell how much much this has hurt him and again kisses him, but this time she kisses him three …show more content…
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 eachother. “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 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
The host, who is later found out to be The Green Knight, tells his wife to seduce Sir Gawain. The hosts’ wife, then attempts to seduce Sir Gawain many times, trying to test his virtue. “You’re free to have my all, do with me what you will. I’ll come just as you call and swear to serve you well” (ll.1236-1240) Sir Gawain receives kisses from the wife, and later returns the kisses to The Green Knight due to their agreement for the exchanging of their days winnings. On the third day of the agreement Sir Gawain receives a gift from the lords’ wife and keeps this gift a secret from the Lord. This was the first time I thought there was something interesting going on at the castle. For Sir Gawain to only have told a lie, about a girdle that saved his life, is not something that I wouldn’t consider detrimental to his knighthood or his reputation. This makes Sir Gawain a noble knight in my point of view. It’s a struggle to always do the right thing. As a knight there would be more temptations, women, money, and more power that is
Lady Bertilak enters into his room as he is changing and she attempt to seduce him. Not only does this test his courtly love and respect for woman, but also loyalty to the chivalric code in a whole. He is frightened first, but then approaches her with more confidence. He eventually says that he cannot do much of anything with her, "So good a knight as Gawain as rightly reputed, in whom courtesy is so completely embodied, could not easily have spent so much time with a lady without begging a kiss, to comply with politeness, by some hint or suggestion at the end of a remark" (1296 - 1301). Gawain would be breaking the chivalric code of courtesy, showing his change in loyalty. After their talk, she presents him with a green scarf and says that it embodies powers and could save him. This is where Gawain’s perception on his life is truly changed. He accepts the article of clothing, and wears it. She states that it will protect him, and he wishes to accept that it will change his fate. The scarf of “gay green silk, with gold overwrought” (1833) would give him fortune in his conflict with the Green Knight, but he would not remain loyal and honest to the chivalric code. His new personality of greed was broken as the girdle was hit through with the axe at the last swing. His dishonesty did not allow him to win, and he will eventually wear the girdle as a sign of sin. Due
In fact, Bertilak still thinks Sir Gawain passes his task, which implies that the author believes that chivalry is not the most important element for the knight. Instead, the author focuses on the unavoidable truth that the base of a knight is a human, and that the life is more valuable than any other thing for Gawain. The author wants people to realize that human could not avoid making faults. All of those are caused by the Green knight’s challenge
The text continues, “’Very well,’ said Gawain, ‘Let it be as you wish. I shall kiss at your command, as becomes a knight, and further, should it please you, so press me no more.’” (1302-1304) He gives into the kiss in order to preserve his pride as a knight. He would not want to stray from the code of honor that befits a knight. The last part of this quote can be read multiple ways. For example, is the knight saying that he will go further than the kiss in order to please her, or asking her not to press him anymore if she finds she likes his kiss. Perhaps he is meaning that since he is giving into her advances of a kiss, she should not ask for anything more. Since Sir Gawain did ward off the other advances that the lady made, the first interpretation of this is most likely incorrect in that he was not allowing room to be coerced any
Seen especially in the Hunting and Temptation scenes, the host, Bertilak, first suggests the terms and conditions of his play, asking Gawain “whatever I win… and whatever gain you… shall give in exchange” (65). However, little did Gawain realize his fall for yet another test which Stevens attempts to explain the parallel between the host’s hunt and Gawain’s temptations by Bertilak’s wife. Each animal that was hunted by the lord corresponds to the behavior of Sir Gawain in his bedroom at the palace, however, it was only until the third and final day of the game where the lord captures a fox, an animal known for its deceit and falsehood, did Gawain broke his agreement with the host. As the young wife seduces Gawain each night to succumb to her temptations, she is ultimately testing two knightly virtues of chastity and courtesy. Though he refuses her advances to be unchaste, Gawain accepts her kisses as a mannerly knight. However, in the final night of the game, a certain fatal flaw is exposed as Gawain accepts the ladies green silken girdle not out of greed or unchastity, but because of self preservation. Whoever wears it “could not be killed by any cunning
Thus, he combines Gawain’s human sexual desire with his chivalric duty to a woman as challenges to his loyalty of the Christian chivalric code. Simultaneously, while facing the sensual temptation by Lady Bertilak, Bertilak assembles a pact with Gawain: “Here’s a wager: what I will win in the woods will be yours, / and what you gain while I’m gone you will give to me” (1106-1107, 209). The pact reveals Bertilak’s solution to the failure of Arthur’s court; by wagering a pact with Gawain that entitles him to all the produce Bertilak gains in the wilderness, he creates the truest form of a testament that will illustrate Gawain’s dedication to the Christian chivalric code. On the day of the hunt, Lady Bertilak seduces Gawain for the final time. However, she is met with refusal, and instead offers Gawain a gifted
In the same way, Benson notes that Gawain will not give into temptation because Lady Bertilack is married and if he does give in it. Although, Lady Bertilack had left she will be returning two more times since Sir Gawain will be staying in Bertilack’s castle for two more nights until he finds the green chapel Bertilack
Even so, Gawain honors the chivalric code and is not disrespectful to the Lady. He surrenders himself to the will of the Lady so that he can “ kiss on command” (1501) and let her down easily. However, unbeknownst to Gawain, the Lady also does not covet a liaison. Both Gawain and the Lady go through the motions of a romantic relationship, but do not satisfy the audience’s sexual expectations because neither the Lady nor Gawain desire intimacy with each other. Therefore, the extent of the Lady and Gawain’s sexual encounter is simply kisses and “argue[ments of] sadness and grace” (1506), nothing
Part Three of Gawain and the Green Knight tell about the three days before Gawain is to leave the Lord’s castle to meet the Green Knight. The first day the lord wakes up early to hunt for deer. The story tells in detail about the hunting party when suddenly we move to the castle back to Gawain. Gawain asleep in his bed is greeted by the lady of the castle sneaking into his room and watching him sleep. Gawain knows she is in his room but acts surprised to wake up to her. The lady flirts with Gawain by telling him how great he is and offers her body to him. The author writes “My body is here at hand, / Your each wish to fulfill; / Your servant to command/ I am, and shall be still.” (Lines 1237-1240). Gawain tells her he is unworthy of her to which the lady continues her flirtatious ways. Before the lady leaves Gawain’s room she asks for a kiss to which Gawain complies and grants her a kiss. The lord’s hunting party has killed a large amount of deer and begins dividing the killings. The party returns home and Gawain is given the game, Gawain gives the lord the kiss he received but refuses to tell who gave him the kiss.
Ingrained into the very nature of knighthood, chivalry encompasses values such as courage, loyalty, bravery, and valor. Generally, Gawain does a formidable job of devoting himself to the virtues of chivalry. When the Green Knight originally enters Camelot, he presents his challenge to the entire group. Gathering no response, he taunts the knights of Camelot, scoffing, “Where’s the fortitude and fearlessness you’re so famous for?” (“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” 144). As the King of Camelot, this insult wounds Arthur’s pride, compelling him to rise and accept the challenge. However, due to his chivalrous nature, Gawain intercedes, claiming, “Such a foolish affair is unfitting for a king…” (“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” 145). Loyal to King Arthur, Gawain recognizes that his covenant of chivalry requires him to protect his leader. Gawain’s commitment to chivalry also benefits him in warding off the seduction of the Host’s wife. During the “Exchange of Winnings,” the Host’s wife uses a variety of methods to tempt Gawain into sin. On the last day of Gawain’s stay at the castle, the narrator states, “For that noble princess pushed him and pressed him, nudged him ever nearer to a limit where he needed to allow her love or impolitely reject it” (“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” 173). Yet because of his commitment to purity
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain humbly approaches the King and courageously says, “For I find it not fit… when such a boon is begged… though you be tempted… to take in on yourself while so bold men about upon benches sit” (122-125) “And for that this folly befits a king, and ‘tis I that have asked it, it ought to be mine” (132-133). He, the weakest Knight, sees the injustice of someone challenging the King and instead of acting passively he willingly sacrifices himself for the King’s sake, which shows his loyalty, courage and integrity. However, Sir Gawain becomes a hypocrite even though the Green Knight says, “Friend mine, it seems your word holds good” (333-334) because the Green Knight’s wife “made trial of a man most faultless by far” (452) and he did not remain loyal and honest. The opportunity of remaining secure and safe presents itself and selfishly he chooses this course of action; consequently, he “lacked… a little in loyalty there” (456). In the end, the Green Knight reprimands him for his dishonesty and lack of integrity and in return Sir Gawain, shamefully responds “I confess, knight, in this place, most dire is my misdeed; let me gain back your good grace…” (Line 474-476) so even though he was not noble and loyal throughout the entire course he remains sincere in his apology. His loyalty to the King in the
In this story, there are many questions that can be asked, such as why did Sir Gawain wait so long too embark on his journey? Why didn’t Sir Gawain just go ahead and give the green girdle to Sir Bertilak? Why didn’t King Arthur insist on being the one to accept the Green Knights challenge? Why did the whole ordeal with the Green Knight happen in the first place? All of these questions can be answered by explaining a few characters flaws. The first two questions can be answered by explaining Sir Gawains character flaw. Sir Gawain is brave on the outside but fearful on the inside. The reason that Sir Gawain waits to leave until the day of all saints is because he’s scared. He knows that he has to go find the Green Knight or people will call him a coward, but he also knows that (or he thinks he knows) that he has to live up to his end of the deal which to him, is getting his head cut off by the Green Knight. This is just the first example of Sir Gawains character flaw causing him problems. The next question can also be answered using Sir Gawains character flaw. When Sir Gawain got to the fortress of Sir Bertilak, they made the deal to exchange what they got at the end of the day. On the third day, when Sir Bertilaks wife gives Gawain the green girdle, Gawain doesn’t exchange it with Bertilak. The reason for this is because Bertilaks wife told
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
Chivalry was a set of codes and values that the knights would follow to show loyalty to their king, respect to their lady, and humbleness to the poor. Next, courtly love was more of a tradition that was beheld usually by a knight and a lady such as Lady Bertilak, they would engage in a relationship and it would be kept a secret. The two have conflicts with each other because while Sir Gawain was courting Lady Bertilak’s he was to do as commanded but also was to not betray the loyalty of King Bertilak who was his host. Furthermore, while Sir Gawain was receiving kisses he also had a deal with his Host, anything he received in his castle would be given to King Bertilak and in exchange, he would receive what the king killed during his hunt. Throughout the first and second time that the king left and came back from hunting Sir Gawain gave him the kisses he received but on the third he failed to give him what he received since Lady Bertilak had given him a green griddle and told him to take it as well as to not to tell her husband about it. Sir Gawain was not to say a word about the gift but in receiving this gift and doing what she commands he breaks the deal between his host and he fails to be
In the third and final hunting scene, Bertilak hunts a cunning fox. In this instance, the hunter must use his own wit to outsmart the fox. Bertilak knows this. He uses his intelligence and quick wit to outsmart the fox. Sir Gawain also experienced a cunning test. Gawain used his sly wit against the lady's third visit by cunningly resisting her offers because of his vows and the fact that he is a guest in Bertilak's home. Sir Gawain resists the lady's advances, as well as her offer of an expensive gift, The lady then offered Sir Gawain a green sash.