Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
In the epic poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the author uses the protagonist, Sir Gawain, to illustrate the heroic ideals of chivalry, loyalty and honesty in fourteenth century England. The poem depicts the fabled society of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. It extols and idolizes the virtues of the fabled kingdom. In the poem, Gawain is the epitome of virtue and all that is good. Throughout the poem, however, his character is constantly tested and his integrity is compromised. In the end, Gawain proves that, although he is fallible, he is an honest and chivalrous man of heroic stature. The poem begins on New Year's Eve in Camelot during a huge dinner celebration. The author elaborately details the "feasting and fellowship and carefree mirth" and sets the scene with "fair folk" and "gentle knights". (p. 2) Amid the merriment and festivities of these noble persons, a huge man on horseback dressed entirely in green, gallops into the hall. Arrogantly he issues a challenge to everyone at the feast for someone to come forward and strike him with his axe. To this man, the green knight promises to award his adversary with his beautiful axe on the condition that in a year from then the challenger should al
so receive the same single blow of the axe in return. He finally comes upon the green chapel and the knight appears. Such a challenge baffles the court and no one responds until, finally, King Arthur stands up and accepts the green knight's offer, though claiming it ridiculous. Therefore, if Sir Gawain, the heroic knight, is depicted as the epitome of all that is good and pure then, one can conclude that the society as a whole placed great emphasis and value upon the ideals of chivalry and nobility. Besides that small shortcoming, the green knight proclaims that Gawain is truly a noble, honorable man henceforth absolved of all guilt. To the credit of his impeccable character, however, he declines. After this, Sir Gawain departs, no longer infallible, to seek out the green knight. This attitude illustrates the values of fourteenth century England. This astounds Sir Gawain and he jumps up and is ready to fight. With grandeur and the courteous air of a hero, Sir Gawain stands up and graciously asks to be granted the challenge on behalf of the king. It defines Gawain's behavior and heroism as ideal. The small cut represented Gawain's small sin of accepting the "magical" sash from the green knight's wife (who reveals that he had been his host at the castle after all). Before he leaves, Arthur tells him "In destinies sad or merry,/ True men can but try.
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