Integrity In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

Sir Gawain’s over all character shows moral courage because he is brave,shows courage and keeps his word. He is brave and shows courage by accepting the green knight’s challenge. “Sir Gawain insists that he be the one to perform the test”. (Malory

What defines a true ultimate hero? Beowulf, who was an epic hero was King Hrothgar’s “saving grace” when the Danes needed it the most, or Sir Gawain, who was remarkably loyal to his king as he stepped in to defend King Arthur and his fellow knights from being ridiculed from the Green Knight and was brave enough to accept the Green Knight’s “blow for a blow in one year's time” agreement? Both of these men were the most honorable heroes of their time but are very different types of heroes. One was a man who exemplified all values of an epic hero and the other was a noble knight who values the idea of chivalry and courtesy, above all else. The epic poem of Sir Gawain and The Green Knight is remembered by audiences around the world for the way Sir Gawain carried himself with exceptional courage and how courteous of an individual he was.

This code consisted of honesty, lawfulness, intelligence, compassion yet, the king still had to be able to make good decisions while staying compassionate and lawful. To a king, the needs of the many should always, far outweigh the needs of the few. On the other hand, Beowolf is a warrior, who’s code consist of none of these things, only do what you can to make a mark on the world, stay honorable and valorous, and you shall be rewarded. Now, as Beowolf speaks of Grendel in the beginning of Beowolf, he compares Grendel to Cain, from the bible, as if Grendel, the monster, were Cain, still walking the Earth, relentlessly murdering others just as he had his

(lines 457-487) In this scene, Wrothgar emphasizes here the great task that Beowulf wishes to undertake by vividly describing the deaths of the past warriors. However, this tactic does not scare the warrior, Beowulf because one can see that the hero’s pride is too great to back down, especially if no one has been able to defeat Grendel. As Wrothgar realizes this, he says to Beowulf, “Now take your place at the table, relish the triumph of heroes to your heart’s content.” (Lines 489-490)

For example, St.Aquinas states,“Three things are necessary for the salvation of man: to know what he ought to believe; to know what he ought to desire; and to know what he ought to do.” Within Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain is fully aware of the immorality of his actions and that he is breaking his code of chivalry out of his own personal desires. Despite Gawain’s status as a knight and his consistency in maintaining virtuous actions for majority of the tale, his soul was still prone to temptation. Tolkien’s tale exhibits how every human is vulnerable towards temptation through the trials of Gawain and his predicaments with

Third, Beowulf has character traits that reflect the societal ideal. Many admired him for his outstanding courage in battle. Beowulf was fiercely loyal to his king. The main value that Beowulf represented was that he only ever battled for the fame it would bring him, never just to battle something or someone. Finally, Beowulf performs actions that determine the fate of the Danes.

Rainsford’s characterization as courageous is being demonstrated as he accepts the proposition the antagonist has led out for him. Sanger quickly regains his composure, as he complies to his request; “And if I win –’ began Rainsford huskily. (9)” There is no detection of fear or unease to the hunter’s voice. The excerpt shows that as it does seem as though he is backing down from a challenge.

In the medieval romance Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain strives to live by the chivalric code, but instead of living like a “knight” he comes short of the knight modern readers think of. The reader may think Sir Gawain is being knightly, but in reality he is failing to meet the extraordinarily lofty standards of the chivalric code by his actions in the beheading and exchange games. The scene that best illuminates Gawain's flaws of following the chivalric code is when he takes the place of King Arthur to participate in the beheading game with the Green Knight. The game is where an opponent gets to strike the Green Knight, and then a year later the Green Knight gets to strike back.

Notwithstanding that Odysseus still have a weakness which is proud. However his still have meritorious abilities to be a hero and a leader. Odysseus’s discernment, scheme, and authority help himself and his men united as one and escaped from death. Although Odysseus saw his crews keep dying in his own eyes, but he didn't get crazy or give up, because he knew that there are still men behind him and followed him. This reminds me a quote which wrote by Ronald Reagen stated that, “There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder,”(Ronald

While others bask in their cowardly ambiance, taking shelter is the first thought to cross their mind, Beowulf on the other hand makes true to his word and time after time again slays the terrifying monster. It was almost as if he wasn't afraid of death, and if he thought that maybe he would die he still fought. No matter the circumstance he makes the best out of it and comes out victorious. The integrity and selflessness that Beowulf shows is unmatched by any other. He unlike most other heroes isn't corrupted by the riches and glory that is presented to him.

From both these readings one can conclude that both of these men had great intentions. In my humble opinion one can’t contrast the conclusions, as the conclusion in both these scenarios is justice, there’s no denying that. But the reader can contrast the way both MLK and Socrates used just obedience to arrive at the conclusion of justice. Socrates seems to be more of an individualistic character, as he had no one group behind him that he was fighting for. He uses his words and his honesty to achieve his justice, he takes every advantage of this one true opportunity he has before the council to voice his opinion.

Sir Gawain and the Green knight is one of the oldest and best known Arthurian stories that is thought to date back to the late fourteenth century. A knight is understood to be a warrior and a strong individual who serves a monarch or leader, but what really makes a knight? What qualities and morals are expected of a knight? Are strength and prowess enough or are knights supposed to be chivalrous, courteous, brave, and honorable? If so, did they ever make mistakes or were they perfect?

Sir Gawain succeeded in upholding his virtues and the Chivalric Code countless times throughout the story. One of the earliest signs of chivalry Sir Gawain shows can be seen at King Arthur’s court, where the Green Knight first appeared before the Knights and challenged them to a game. Sir Gawain shows courage by bravely accepting the challenge, but he also shows humility by praising the other knights and degrading himself by saying, “I am the weakest, I know, and the feeblest of wit, and to tell the truth, there would be the least loss in my life.” (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl Poet, pg. 8)

Faith as part of the code of chivalry can be seen as a major idea throughout “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” and is explained in more detail in the writing “Grace Versus Merit in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.” In “Grace Versus Merit in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” the author is explaining how faith is a huge part of the story of Sir Gawain. He states that the poem “is deeply imbued with Christian moral values…” (Champion 413). Champion goes on to give some examples of how the writer of the poem “‘was thoroughly familiar with the trends of religious concepts’”

In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain is described as a perfect embodiment of Solomon’s Pentangle. Before Sir Gawain rides off to receive the Green Knight’s blow, he has the Pentangle painted onto his shield. All five points of the pentangle on Sir GAwain’s shield symbolize a virtue of a perfect knight. They are the Five sense/ witts, the five fingers, the five wounds of Christ, the five joys of Mary, and the 5 virtues. The five virtues are generosity, sociability, courtesy, compassion/piety and purity.