In stanza 74, fit III, the lady of the castle offers a magical, green girdle to Sir Gawain and explains to him that the wearer of this corset “cannot be killed by any cunning on earth.” Sir Gawain, amidst an ethical dilemma, accepts the gift and chooses to conceal it from Lord Bertilak. This passage contains three of the main themes of the story – the inner and outer conflicts between Sir Gawain’s ethics and desire to live, and the test of religion.
When Sir Gawain is offered the girdle, his knightly principles are questioned. The honorable thing would be to reject the offer or bring it to the lord of the castle, but Gawain places the preservation of his life ahead of chivalry. The knight has withstood the lady’s constant barrage of sexual advances, and kept his promise to the lord of the castle, but when the chance to save his life is presented, he snatches it up without a second thought. This point is shown by the way the author puts “Outright” on a line of it’s own, emphasizing Gawain’s quick decision. He is then ecstatic about the thought that he will survive his meeting with the knight the next day, shown by “often thanks gave he/ With all his heart and might.” Later, Sir Gawain finds three faults in his actions, the first being his cowardice – in direct contrast to the main principles of knighthood, the second being his covetousness, his lust for life, and the third being his lack of faith in God. Even when it is shown that God has forgiven him by healing the wound on his neck, Sir Gawain still feels that he has sinned, and is not as willing to forgive himself. He decides that more atonement is in order, so he makes the decision to wear the girdle from then on, as a sign of his eternal sin, but even then he does not feel that he has been cleansed of his sin. He understands that he will be forced to bear the shame and disgrace of the sin for the rest of his life.
The Essay on Lord Of The Flies Whats In A Name
Today, many readers of literature adopt an impression that all fictional books are naught but a good fairytale in a land far, far away, once upon a time. The Lord of the Flies takes place during an unreal time period, and its plot develops on a fictional island secluded from civilization. However, some of its contents are far from being the exaggerated concoctions of William Golding. This book is ...
The observers’ opinions of whether Sir Gawain is forgiven are the complete opposite of Sir Gawain’s. In the passage, it is mentioned that the lady kissed the constant knight. The question arises as to the author’s meaning of constant. It is obvious that it does not mean that Gawain is constant in his moral decisions, as he just made an unethical decision. It also wouldn’t mean that he is determined or steadfast, for he just caved in to his want for life and threw his morals aside. Another improbable definition would be that of unwavering faith because he just gave up on God. It is possible that the author is being sarcastic, yet this has not been the previous style of writing. So what is the author saying by labeling Gawain “the constant knight?” A likely possibility is the author’s disdain with the current conditions of chivalry and knighthood. He is mocking the misconception of the knights of King Arthur’s court and offers the idea that it is more corrupt and conceited than commonly believed. Therefore, being labeled a constant knight is the author’s way of accepting Sir Gawain’s decision, as it would have been standard with the other knights, though not necessarily condoning it.
The question as to whether Gawain is right in choosing his life over his morals is mentioned when the Green Knight reveals himself as Lord Bertilak. The Green Knight feels that it was excusable for Gawain to accept the girdle, as his decision was well motivated. Sir Gawain did not fall due to lust for a woman or to the offer of “a well-wrought thing” such as the gold ring, but to his love of life, which Bertilak finds to be “less blameworthy.” Lord Bertilak perceives Sir Gawain as a noble and honorable knight, and invites him back to his castle to celebrate the New Year. Gawain is let off the hook and sent on his way. When Sir Gawain returns to Camelot, he recalls his story, humiliated and humbled. The members of King Arthur’s court, however, feel that Sir Gawain has done well and attempt to cheer the knight up. They do not feel that Sir Gawain has done anything immoral and let it pass as they continue their revelry.
The Term Paper on Sir Gawain Pentangle Knight Green
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight the poet depicts an entertaining story of adventure and intrigue. However, the poem is more than a grand adventure. It is an attempt to explore the moral ideals of Sir Gawain. Gawain's standards are represented by the pentangle on his shield. The depiction of the pentangle occurs when Sir Gawain is preparing to gear up for his quest for the Green Chapel. Gawain's ...
The third of the primary themes of the poem is the test of Sir Gawain’s faith and devotion to God. God’s presence is prominent throughout the entire poem, as he helps Sir Gawain and leads him on the correct path. Sir Gawain’s acceptance of the girdle shows his lack of faith in God’s protection; he sees himself as a Christian knight, but, rather than trusting in God’s protection, commits a sin to protect himself. At this point in the story, however, there is no reason to doubt God – God had protected Sir Gawain during his journey, God had directed him to the area near the Green Chapel, and when Gawain needed a place to worship on Christmas Eve, God led him to the castle in the woods. Gawain remained pious as he refused his hostess’s constant advances, but when he is given the easy chance to save himself from the blade of the Green Knight, he forsakes God and forgets all that He has done to help him. In this aspect, Morgan represents Satan; using the lady of the castle as her puppet, she endeavors to tempt Sir Gawain and lead him away from God. When her original, sexual attempts fail, she makes a final effort by offering her girdle, using man’s inborn tendency to protect himself at all costs.
Sir Gawain, in fact, needs little convincing; “he allowed her to solicit him and let her speak.” Whereas Gawain had previously thwarted all attempts of corruption, he has only a slight doubt about taking the girdle and lets the lady talk him into accepting it. By allowing the lady to press “the belt upon him with potent words,” he uses her argument to rationalize his taking of the belt. The “potent” used in the line seems to refer to the effectiveness of her words, as he has already convinced himself to take it, rather than to the powerfulness of her words. Her argument was just the final point that Gawain needed to have the courage to leave his principles and take the girdle. When Sir Gawain accepts the corset, he fails this test of faith, for he “binds himself with this belt of green.” The green of the girdle is related to the evil associated with the Green Knight and signifies the wrong choice that Sir Gawain makes. This decision is only a minor sin though; when the truth about the Green Knight is revealed, Sir Gawain is repentant, and his penance is served through the knick of Bertilak’s axe. Though technically Gawain fails the test when he gives into the lady’s temptations, he does well enough to pass in God’s eyes. As mentioned before, Sir Gawain is forgiven by God, as shown by the healing of the axe wound.
The Essay on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Monty Python and the Holy Grail
... he is breaking his oath with the green knight. The reason Sir Gawain takes the green girdle is that “the man that binds his ... knight, he is supposed to have confidence in God, but by taking the green girdle as a symbol of magic, he gives ... (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 77). Her referring to his courtesy makes it hard for him to withstand. Nevertheless, unlike Sir Galahad, Sir Gawain is ...
The combination of these three themes creates a complex moral dilemma for the antagonist, Sir Gawain. This perplexity asks the question of life versus religion; is it acceptable to forsake God to save one’s own life? In the poem, obviously, it would have been wiser for Gawain to have denied the gift of the girdle; denial of the offering would have been the more ethical, socially acceptable, and pious choice to make. Sir Gawain’s acquisition of the present is accepted by others and by God as only a minor fault, and that is the author’s point. When confronted with a complicated decision, the person making the judgment will always be either supported or forgiven by his peers and by God; that person must appease themselves, however, and make the decision that he or she feels is ethically and morally correct.
