Gawain binary Opposition
As a contemporary American reader, it is all right to assume that the first scene in which the particular character is involved drastically shapes our opinion of characters in a particular novel or poem. Immediately we jump to conclusions about what is right and what is wrong, who is the good guy and who is the bad guy. In fact, once we get an initial impression from a character, it is unlikely that this opinion will change as we continue to read on, unless of course some drastic events take place. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an excellent example of a poem where first impressions may not be the most important to the reader. As the opening scene unfolds, we are introduced to a Green Knight who seems extremely high on himself and Gawain who seems full of confidence and is ready to take on any challenge. However, the events that take place later in the poem will most definitely have an impact on the way we view each character individually. We are automatically forced to take sides, one of the characters is bad and one of them is good. It is absurd for someone to think that this not be the case when two people confront each other in such a dramatic opening scene. By looking at the in
It is simply impossible for these two characters to be satisfied with what they have. Unknown to Gawain at the time, he was actually attracted to the Green Knight's wife, but of course he was oblivious to him since he did not even know if he was in the right castle or not. They both lived up to the idea of the Pagan hero and could not control there greed and lust. At this time, royal feasts are one of the most highly treasured events in the castle, and for someone to ride in on a horse and provoke such a ridiculous challenge is unthinkable. Bressler expands by saying that "Western philosophy holds that in each of these binary operations or two opposing centers, one concept is superior and defines itself by its opposite or inferior center" (125). He would simply lure Gawain into his game and get him to visit him at his castle so he can put his plan in full effect. Gawain takes it to try and deceive the Green Knight, and perhaps even himself, into thinking that everything is alright. This is why the author had to expose the weakness of both the knights. So immediately after reading this exchange between Gawain and Arthur, everyone is quick to apply the label hero to Gawain. He was picking his target and moving in on it knowing he had the upper hand. It is unfair for someone to call themselves God-like just by going through the process of becoming a knight. What should be clear to the reader is that Gawain is not really all that he was built up to be at the beginning of the novel. " But the fact is the first impression that the Green Knight gives the readers could not be further from the truth.
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Acceptance Essays
