Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Rape Culture Essay

Rape culture is an idea that helped define a generation in the 1970’s and continues to hold significance in modern society. Although the term itself has been recently coined, the norms of rape culture have been seen in civilizations for centuries. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a 14th century poem, displays ideas of rape and dominance within its stanzas. From a feminist lens, the role of Lady Bertilak is symbolic of Rape Culture through a display of dominance and disrespect from her husband and Sir Gawain, her objectification as a pawn in her husband’s games, the theme of hunting as it creates a parallel between the bedroom scenes and the actual hunt, and her representation of the whole female population. Lord Bertilak and Sir Gawain
Lord Bertilak and Sir Gawain strike a deal, prompting another game: “...what I win in the woods will be yours, and what you gain while I’m gone you will give to me.” (Greenblatt 1106-07) This is Lord Bertilak’s way of catching Sir Gawain in an act of dishonor and treachery with his wife, thus allowing him to complete the original game which would result in the beheading of Sir Gawain. At the end of each day, the two will swap their winnings. When Lord Bertilak returns from his first hunt, he gifts Sir Gawain deer meat. In return, Sir Gawain gives Lord Bertilak a chaste kiss that mimics the one he received from Lady Bertilak. It is because of this deal that Lady Bertilak becomes something of no more esteem than the kill her husband made that day. Her gift is matched with the gift of animal carcass implying that the prize of the hunt is in fact the woman. In Rape Culture, this symbolizes terrorism against women as a normalcy. Sexual violence is a part of life, and it is shown through the idea of Lady Bertilak as an object to be captured and hunted down and ultimately in the possession of