Writers of every era and every culture have always been influenced by their surroundings, whether that be the landscape itself or the deeply held beliefs of the people living there. These elements come across in their writings, one of the most commonly seen belief or value that can be found in Early British Literature is Christianity. While most of Britain was once occupied by pagans, after the conversion to Christianity these Christian themes can be found penetrating through every era of literature. The Old English epic poem, Beowulf, draws on Christianity to rationalize some of its supernatural elements, turning the pre-conversion myth into a lesson on faith. The Middle English romance, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, uses mysticism and …show more content…
Sir Gawain and the Green depicts this importance of faith by testing Gawain’s moral and knightly code. Gawain is the epitome of what a knight ought to be, with a strong moral code and an unquestioning faith, which he proudly displays on his shield with the Virgin Mary painted on the inside and the Pentangle on the outside. This faith is soon meet with a test the castle of the lord and his once strong faith in God falters. While Gawain is able to remain innocent when it comes to the seductive ways of the lord’s wife, he is unable to stop himself from accepting her magical girdle that would protect him against any harm, even though it is in opposition to both his faith and his loyalties. Gawain comprises his morals due to fear about his impending encounter with the Green Knight and he give into his fear and takes the magical protection the girdle offers. His taking of the girdle represents his utter trust in God wavering and instead placing his trust and safety in the hands of the supernatural. Since religion at this point was such a vital aspect of everyday life, this wavering of belief was considered a great sin. However, when the Green Knight is given the opportunity to kill Gawain, he barely nicks his neck. It is then revealed that he is the lord and this was all a test. …show more content…
While Faustus' practice of black magic and his pact with Mephastophilis condemns him to damnation, until almost the last lines of the play Faustus is conscious of the possibility of salvation if he repents. He is reminded throughout the play that if he truly repents, God will forgive him. It is for this reason that every time Faustus called out to God Mephastophilis is alarmed, because he knows that Faustus could be saved if he only repents and asks for forgiveness. The true conflict of the play is a battle between good and evil, and the prize is Faustus' soul. Faustus himself is represented through the Good and Evil Angles, they represent the two sides of Faustus’s character that are constantly fighting over which way he will turn. The two angels are both his inner thoughts, the Evil Angel representing his pride and sin while the Good Angel represents his conscious telling him that he is going down a wrong path. The story is a cautionary tale that people should not give in to their pride and desire, but it’s also a story that reinstates time and again that Faustus may have been saved if he had only repented. The play cautions readers to not give into their temptation and it praises the forgiveness of
Tempted by the chance of protecting himself from the Green Knight, Gawain takes the girdle and does not give it back to Lord Bertilak that night. In her inquiry to deprive Gawain of his honor, Lady Bertilak uses what he desires against him. Regardless that she has been instructed to do this by her own husband, she still is able to influence Gawain and cause some discomfort.
The main theme of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is the journey to maturity of Gawain, the hero. During the passage, Gawain goes through three tests on his development. First, Gawain shows courage and resourcefulness when he volunteers to take the Green Knight’s challenge instead of Arthur doing so. Second, Gawain shows authority, self-restraint, and integrity when he denies the sexual endeavours of the lady of the house. Lastly, Gawain shows bravery when he faces death by keeping his meeting with the Green
However, while they both have the same intentions, their actions conflict heavily, and situate them on opposite sides of a matter. Because of this, there is not a clear good or evil person; almost every aspect of the playwright is up to the reader’s interpretation. But, it is not impossible to make a compromise between two people about their values, even if it seems the values could not be more
To be Chivalrous means that a man must stick firmly with christian values that go far beyond the rules of combat. To be that certain type of chivalry, a knight must be honourable, courteous, and brave. This includes not straying from the belief that God will always bless you and help you in your hour of need. While it is true that Sir Gawain does, through most of the story, exhibit that he is a chivalric knight, it towards the end when he shows the most weakness in faith and code. When he takes the “girdle of immunity,” something belonging to the Pagan side, is when he demonstrates that his faith is not as strong as his armour makes him appear.
Which led to the Green Knight explaining to Gawain that he is actually the same lord of the castle where Gawain spent his holidays. The first two blows, he claims, were in return for the way Gawain returned the kisses of his wife, following the rules of their game as an honest man should. The third blow, he says, was for Gawain’s failure to return the green girdle to him on the last day. But because Gawain’s failing was only because he wanted to save his life, and not because he's just dishonorable, the Green Knight forgives him. He leaves Gawain with only a scar and a girdle as a reminder of his very human sin.
In the lines above it is seen that the Green Knight’s head had completely been severed yet he remains unshaved, it is clear now that Gawain has been deceived. Gawain continues to keep his word even though his journey is lonely and dangerous. “ […] Sir Gawain, Gods servant, on his grim quest, passing long dark nights unloved and alone […] With no friends
Othello believes Iago to be as evil as the devil, expecting to see hoofs of a goat, symbolic of the devil, when he looks at Iago’s feet. This devil imagery is used to emphasize Iago’s evil nature. With his plan to destroy Othello being revealed to the other characters, he is now seen as an incarnation of the devil, because of the tremendous amount of pain Iago caused Othello, having purposefully orchestrated it for his own self interest. Thus, by taking
As an Expert states, “Critics consider the puzzle of the theme a major asset of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and they continue to debate whether the real test was what happened at Castle Hautdesert rather than the exchange of blows, as well as whether, finally, Gawain passed or failed the tests” (Classical and Medieval Literature Criticism). The reason the critics say this is because they see that the real or possibly the real test was when Sir Gawain was in the castle getting tested by the king which turns out to be the king rather than getting swung at with an axe. Although Sir Gawain was not aware that the king was testing him under these circumstances he did want he had to do even if it meant he was a bit disloyal when taking the green sash. As Sir Gawain states, ‘“There, there’s my fault! The foul fiend vex it” (line 389)!
Sir Gawain shows loyalty and humility when he makes the decision of honoring the promise he made with the Green Knight. This humility drives him to set off to pursue the Green Knight to honor the pact they agreed on. On his arrival at the Green chapel, he calls the Green Knight who emerges to greet him and to fulfill the terms of the contract (Cathell). Sir Gawain presents his neck voluntarily to the Green Knight who feigns two blows (Cooke 4). This is a commitment and a sign of piety that Gawain manifests.
On the last day, the lady tempts him yet again, at first he refuses: " I swear by fire and ice to be your humble knight" (l. 216-217). But then she brings out the green scarf that promises to save his life. Who could blame Gawain for wanting to save his own life? Not many men would turn down an opportunity to avoid being beheaded, and although Gawain, being a Knight of the Round Table was supposed
Gawain, who had struck a deal with the lord to surrender all things he received during his stay in the lord’s dwelling, fails to do so in the name of self-preservation. The lord’s wife gifts Sir Gawain a green sash rumored to protect its possessor from physical harm. Gawain, recalling his inevitable meeting with the Green Knight, decides to contradict his agreement with the lord and “hid[es] it away from all hands and eyes” (Line 1875). His decision blatantly violated the chivalrous code, “failing a moral test in agreeing to hide the girdle from the husband, with whom he has the prior arrangement to exchange winnings” (West 9).
Eventually, Troy's association of the Devil as a omen of death comes to speak for his struggle to survive the course of his life. Many epilogue in the play end with Troy speaking a monologue to Death and the Devil. In Act One, Scene One, Troy spins a long yarn, or tale about his fight for several days with the Devil. The story of the Devil endears Troy to audiences early on by revealing his capability to imagine and believe in the absurd. In another story, Troy turns a white salesman into a Devil.
In response to the taunting of the Green Knight, Sir Gawain says, "I shied once: no more. You have my word," (272-273). Gawain, like all natural man, shied away once from the Knight's sword as a defensive reflex, but he quickly shakes off any cowardice and announces to the Green Knight that he was caught in a moment of doubt. From there he goes to say that he ultimately is no coward, but rather a noble and courageous knight of the roundtable who is devoted and loyal to King Arthur. He is more than willing and prepared to take what is coming and preserve the honor of his people, as well as his own.
Paganism in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight The idea of Christianity versus Paganism dramatizes the controversy over the conversion from Paganism to Christianity. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the author uses religion to create conflicting dynamics within characters and plot. Above all, in the poem, the Green Knight represents the Green Man and highlights the flaws in Camelot and the Christian Knights within its court. At the time Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was written, pagan beliefs and myths were still highly prevalent.
The lady tries to convince Gawain to take the girdle by hinting at its magical powers , stating that he “could not be slain through any strategy on earth” (1854) if he wears it . Gawain takes the girdle not out of lust , but because he fears death and that makes him start to believe in its magical powers “It [the girdle] certainly would be splendid to forestall being slain” (1858) . It is a way in which he tries to overcome fear and prepare himself for the appointment with the Green Knight. If we look at it from this perspective , the girdle can also symbolize that Gawain wants to be assured that he lives. The moment he takes the girdle is of great importance : whether he hides or declares the girdle and gives it to the Lord , he violates someone’s trust .