Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Analysis Essay
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a passionate tale about a knight struggling with trying to do what's right versus doing what is needed to do in order to stay alive. This poem is about the chivalrous romance of Sir Gawain and the Bertilaks. It goes through Sir Gawain's personal struggles as he goes through temptations and trials set up by both Lord and Lady Bertilak. The poem describes how Sir Gawain accepts the challenge of the Green Knight and losses. Sir Gawain struggles to keep his bargain with both Lord Bertilak and the Green Knight while keeping his reputation and life intact.
Sir Gawain strictly sticks to the ideals of courtesy even when it may cause him much trouble. When on his first day in the castle of Lord Bertilak, Sir Gawain is tempted by Lady Bertilak. Originally he does not give in to her temptation. When she questions his courtesy, his resolves stops and he allows for her to kiss him. Every night, Sir Gawain "returns" the kisses to Lord Bertilak, while he does not tell him where he has received them from. On the third day, Lady Bertilak offers him a golden ring and he refuses, even though it is quite valuable. This shows …show more content…
that while he does care about his livelihood, he puts his courtesy before wealth and gold. Sir
Gawain's identity largely seems to be based on what others may think of him.
When the Green Knight originally comes to threaten and challenge King Arthur, He is the one who steps forward when he was thinking just moments before on how he believes himself to be the smallest and least brave member of the round table. Sir Gawain also fulfills his word to go and find the Green Knight, despite the fact that it may kill him. While this is also motivated by his desire to keep the code of the knights, Sir Gawain cannot back out of his deal because he made it in front of the entire roundtable. When Sir Gawain goes to receive his blow from the Green Knight, The Green Knight mocks him for fetching from the green's knights first fake swing. After the mocking, Sir Gawain refuses to the flinch on both the second fake swing and on the
hit.
Sir Gawain also follows the rules of his bargains up till he believes that he is about to die. Each day that he is in the castle, Sir Gawain kisses Lord Bertilak to return the kisses that he earned throughout the day. On his last day, though, he does not return the girdle that was given to him by Lady Bertilak. This was amended though by Lord Bertilak admitting that he knew all along of what his wife was doing and that Sir Gawain was the blameless of all the knights. Sir Gawain also shows his need to follow the rules by going to meet the Green Knight at the end, despite his guide, Lady Bertilak, and many others pleading for him to not go. This shows that he was willing to even die, if that meant that he was going to keep his promises.
The poem of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight tells us a story of struggling to do the right thing when it is the most difficult. This poem has many different themes and narratives. I believe that many different morals are detailed through this poem, which can be meaningful for any reader. The will to do the right thing though is still the main theme throughout the poem and greatly portrayed and symbolized in the story.
Sir Gawain strictly sticks to the ideals of courtesy even when it may cause him much trouble. When on his first day in the castle of Lord Bertilak, Sir Gawain is tempted by Lady Bertilak. Originally he does not give in to her temptation. When she questions his courtesy, his resolves stops and he allows for her to kiss him. Every night, Sir Gawain "returns" the kisses to Lord Bertilak, while he does not tell him where he has received them from. On the third day, Lady Bertilak offers him a golden ring and he refuses, even though it is quite valuable. This shows …show more content…
that while he does care about his livelihood, he puts his courtesy before wealth and gold. Sir
Gawain's identity largely seems to be based on what others may think of him.
When the Green Knight originally comes to threaten and challenge King Arthur, He is the one who steps forward when he was thinking just moments before on how he believes himself to be the smallest and least brave member of the round table. Sir Gawain also fulfills his word to go and find the Green Knight, despite the fact that it may kill him. While this is also motivated by his desire to keep the code of the knights, Sir Gawain cannot back out of his deal because he made it in front of the entire roundtable. When Sir Gawain goes to receive his blow from the Green Knight, The Green Knight mocks him for fetching from the green's knights first fake swing. After the mocking, Sir Gawain refuses to the flinch on both the second fake swing and on the
hit.
Sir Gawain also follows the rules of his bargains up till he believes that he is about to die. Each day that he is in the castle, Sir Gawain kisses Lord Bertilak to return the kisses that he earned throughout the day. On his last day, though, he does not return the girdle that was given to him by Lady Bertilak. This was amended though by Lord Bertilak admitting that he knew all along of what his wife was doing and that Sir Gawain was the blameless of all the knights. Sir Gawain also shows his need to follow the rules by going to meet the Green Knight at the end, despite his guide, Lady Bertilak, and many others pleading for him to not go. This shows that he was willing to even die, if that meant that he was going to keep his promises.
The poem of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight tells us a story of struggling to do the right thing when it is the most difficult. This poem has many different themes and narratives. I believe that many different morals are detailed through this poem, which can be meaningful for any reader. The will to do the right thing though is still the main theme throughout the poem and greatly portrayed and symbolized in the story.