Gawain

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight by W.R.J. Barron, is a medieval tale depicting a specific quest of Sir Gawain. In the story, Sir Gawain is confronted with temptations that test his chivalry and moral compass. The article "Medieval Misogyny and Gawain's Outburst against Women in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" by Gerald Morgan argues that there is proof that woman are blatantly accused of causing the knight to almost fail his quest and that men are placed higher above women. As a reader of both the article and the story, I find that this article does express a correct idea. The lady in question turns out to be the wife of the Green Knight, who actually goes by the name of Bertilak de Hautdesert. In the story, Sir Gawain is seeking refuge in the castle belonging to a mysterious nobleman. The man strikes up a deal with Gawain stating that they will trade every night for whatever the other gains throughout the day. While the husband goes out for the hunt, Gawain is confronted by the noble lady. He notices her "white and red mingling in her lovely face" and her "slender laughing lips." At this moment, Sir Gawain appears to be subject to her every command. This is indicating that it is her fault that he stayed in bed, instead of rising like he intended on doing. Instead of performing the tasks he intended on, he felt the need to stay to entertain the woman who was so insistent on seeing him at his bedside. In Morgans article, he goes into detail about how knights and noblewomen have futures that are intertwined. The knight must fight for the lady, thus showing that woman cannot fend for themselves and are treated like objects. In the story, there are some slight indications that this is in fact the authors view on the topic. Every day, Sir Gawain gives the objects that he received throughout the day to the Lord of the house. In this situation, that happens to be the woman's kisses. Since he is turning her kisses into a tangible object that you would give someone,