Analysis Of Sir Gawains Character Essay -- Arthurian Legends English

Analysis Of Sir Gawains CharacterIn Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the book of facts of Sir Gawain, nephew of the famed Arthur of the Round Table, is seen as the most terrible of knights who is the epitome of chivalry, yet he is also susceptible to mistakes. His courtesy, honor, honesty, and courage are subjected to various tests, posed by the wicked Morgan le Fay. Some tests prove his character and the chivalrous code true and faultless, like the time he answers a argufy although it might mean his death, or remains courteous to a doll despite temptation. Other tests prove his character and the chivalrous code faulty such as the time he breaks his promise to his host, and when he flinches from a pure blow.The first test to his courage, courtesy, humility and loyalty toward his king, Arthur, occurs when the Green Knight suddenly appears at Camelots New Years feast. He offers the Round Table a challenge the game is for a man to strike him with his axe, and twelve months and a da y later, the Green Knight will return the blow. When Arthur accepts the challenge, Gawain interferes and asks Arthur with humility and courtesy to grant him the fancify to stand by him (SGGK l. 343-344). He confesses that he is the weakest, and of wit feeblest, and the loss of his life would not be a great tragedy at all because his body, exclusively for Arthurs blood, is not worth much (SGGK l. 354-357). He asks to be granted the privilege to claim the Green Knights challenge because it does not befit a king. deduction of Gawains character is substantiated by his noble acceptance of the Green Knights beheading game in order to release the king forthwith from his obligation(SGGK l. 365). It shows courage and loyalty that even among famed knights suc... ...love for his life. Thus Gawain deserves less blame for his misdemeanor minor transgression.Although Gawain, like most us, is prone to evil thoughts of selfishness and dishonesty, and takes a cowardly action, men still hold hi m dear in Bercilaks castle as well as in Arthurs Camelot (SGGK l. 2465). His friends are not as let down with him as he is disappointed with himself. He holds himself in contempt, rages in his heart and grieves for the shame in his actions and the green belt that he must bear (SGGK l.251-252). He wears the girdle as a badge to remind him of his faults and to lower his pride when it becomes inflated. But he has learned from his mistakes and becomes an even better knight.Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in The Norton Anthology of English Literature 7th ed. vol.1. Abrams, M. H et al. New York W. W. Norton & Company, 2000. 157-210.