The Nature of Sir Gawain
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight starts out in at a New Year's feast in King Arthur's court in Camelot. A man known only as the Green Knight comes and challenges the court to a game. Any knight can chop off his head as long as he gets to do the same in one year's time. Arthur accepts the challenge when Sir Gawain steps in and takes his place. Gawain chops of the mans head as he turns and picks it up and tells Gawain that he will see him in a year's time. On his way to meet the Green Knight Gawain meets up with some obstacles, before going before the knight. Through his actions Sir Gawain is a martyr.One aspect of being a martyr is to be modest. He first exhibits modesty when he takes the offer of the Green Knight as he states, "I am the slightest, the dullest of them all; My life the least, my death no loss - My only worth is you, my royal Uncle, all my virtue is through you." His modesty is shown again when dealing with the Lady of the castle as she tries to make advances to him. He countered her by saying, "How lucky I am, Lady, not to be the knight you speak of: To take that kind of honor for my own would be sinful; I know myself too well." The Lady also exploits this trait of Gawain's. She knows that he has a desir
Gawain's dedication to god is also a sign of being a martyr. e and obligation to be polite and courteous. " He also carries a picture of the Virgin Mary on the inside of his shield for protection. "Sir Gawain is modest knight under the patronage of King Arthur and the Royal Court. " This trust breaks down when he takes the green sash from the Lady of the castle. So when she makes her advances he doesn't know what to do, "Urged him so near the limit, he needed either to take her love or boorishly turn her away. When the lady offers him a ring he refused it saying, "My lady fair, in God's own name there's nothing I can take, not now, when I've nothing to give in return. Gawain does not care for gifts or personal possessions. I'll not weep or complain: I keep my trust in him, I'll do as! He would. " When Gawain is trying to thwart that Lady's advances we see how he is vulnerable with out the presence of God, "Great peril attends the meeting. His religious devotion is show in the description of Christmas, "On that morning when men remember God's Birth, His descent to earth to save our souls, the world rejoices for His Sake. He looses faith in God and takes a gift in which is against his normal code. This is the first time Gawain shows his doubt in the power of religion. He tries to please others while still staying with in the realm of his code.
Common topics in this essay:
Green Knight,
God I'll,
Sir Gawain,
Royal Court,
Sake Gawain,
Virgin Mary,
God's Birth,
green knight,
Knight Gawain,
sir gawain,
King Arthur's,
virgin mary,
trust god,
lady castle,
|
Acceptance Essays
