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Chivalrous Ideals In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

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Chivalrous Ideals in

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

It is common to see benevolent characters in early english literature such as Sir Gawain, who is yet another example of a knight who has been put into a problematic situation and must choose to stay true to his chivalrous nature or protect himself. Chivalry and the ethics of a knight are obvious running themes in The Pearl Poet’s, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The author, throughout the story, uses Gawain’s bravery, honor, and loyalty to show the ideal of knighthood.

From the very beginning of the poem, young Sir Gawain puts others before himself. He wears the symbol of a pentangle, which stands for generosity, fellowship, chastity, courtesy, and charity. He is expected …show more content…

When Sir Bertilak asks that he trade anything he receives in his time at the castle, Sir Gawain nobley retorts “‘What I have honourably won inside this castle, With as much good will truly shall be yours.’ He takes the other’s strong neck in his arms, And kisses him as pleasantly as he could devise.” (1383 - 1389) Even though this could be a potentially compromising situation, Gawain tackles it with grace. This grace continues with his stay at Sir Bertilak’s home, especially when he has the opportunity to bed his host’s wife, but instead, turns her down. All of this ends when Sir Gawain is faced with the ultimate choice, the chance to save his own life by hiding a green girdle from Sir Bertilak or to keep his promise to trade his winnings. The knight obviously chose the green girdle, to wear in his encounter with the Green Knight at the end of his journey. Sir Gawain is so dissatisfied with himself when he says, “The first words that the knight uttered there Were, " A curse upon cowardice and covetousness! You breed boorishness and vice that ruin virtue. [. . .] For fear of your blow taught me cowardice, To give way to covetousness, be false to my nature, The generosity and fidelity expected of knights. Now I am false and unworthy, and have always dreaded Treachery and deceit: may misfortune and grief befall both!" (2374 - 2376, 2379 - 2384) Sir Gawain was disappointed in himself because he wore

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