Courtly Love In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight
Courtly love, or the conceptions of love in which nobility and chivalry are emphasized, and courtly conduct are demonstrated in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Sir Gawain is ultimately the quintessential knight, including every characteristic a true knight should. However, it is Gawain’s mastery of courtly conduct and culture, which truly exemplify his knighthood. The first, his mastery and application of his knowledge of courtly love are exhibited in this poem. On the first day, the Lord sets off hunting and concurrently, the Lady of the castle tempts Gawain. Originally, the young knight hears the Lady enter his chambers and, "embarrassed, [decides to l]ay flat with fine adroitness and feign sleep" (Longman 248). Gawain understands that any promiscuous behavior would insult the Lord of the castle, who has …show more content…
For instance, the Lord, later revealed as Bercilak, the Green Knight, offers Gawain sanctuary and rest in his castle until he may confront the Green Knight. However, the Lord does not only provide Gawain the bare minimum necessities for his stay, rather, he, “has ladies fetched,” the opportunity to, “lie long in [his] room,” which the Lord provides, and hefty feasts each evening to celebrate their respective prizes won on that day (Longman 246). On the second night, after the first hunt, the venison the lord captured is eaten with, “joy abound[ing] at the board,” (Longman 252). On the third night again, “[m]uch gladness and glee then gushed forth there by the fire on the floor,” Gawain is treated to another feast by his hosts, maidens along the hall, drinks and good discourse, and “[a] concert of Christmas carols and dance songs” (Long man 258-259). On the final night, Gawain is privy to, “mirth and minstrelsy, and meals when [the court] liked” (Longman 264). Ultimately, Gawain is gifted the best hospitality by the lord and his court in food, sleep, and
Sir Gawain is ultimately the quintessential knight, including every characteristic a true knight should. However, it is Gawain’s mastery of courtly conduct and culture, which truly exemplify his knighthood. The first, his mastery and application of his knowledge of courtly love are exhibited in this poem. On the first day, the Lord sets off hunting and concurrently, the Lady of the castle tempts Gawain. Originally, the young knight hears the Lady enter his chambers and, "embarrassed, [decides to l]ay flat with fine adroitness and feign sleep" (Longman 248). Gawain understands that any promiscuous behavior would insult the Lord of the castle, who has …show more content…
For instance, the Lord, later revealed as Bercilak, the Green Knight, offers Gawain sanctuary and rest in his castle until he may confront the Green Knight. However, the Lord does not only provide Gawain the bare minimum necessities for his stay, rather, he, “has ladies fetched,” the opportunity to, “lie long in [his] room,” which the Lord provides, and hefty feasts each evening to celebrate their respective prizes won on that day (Longman 246). On the second night, after the first hunt, the venison the lord captured is eaten with, “joy abound[ing] at the board,” (Longman 252). On the third night again, “[m]uch gladness and glee then gushed forth there by the fire on the floor,” Gawain is treated to another feast by his hosts, maidens along the hall, drinks and good discourse, and “[a] concert of Christmas carols and dance songs” (Long man 258-259). On the final night, Gawain is privy to, “mirth and minstrelsy, and meals when [the court] liked” (Longman 264). Ultimately, Gawain is gifted the best hospitality by the lord and his court in food, sleep, and