Sir Gawain and Green Knight Essays: Triumph or Failure? :: Sir Gawain Green Knight Essays

Sir Gawain Triumph or Failure?    Sir Gawain is presented as a noble knight who is the epitome of valiancy he is loyal, honest and above all, courteous. He is the perfect knight he is so recognised by the various characters in the story and, for all his modesty, implicitly in his view of himself. To the others his greatest qualities are his knightly courtesy and his success in battle. To Gawain these are important, but he seems to set an even higher cherish on his courage and integrity, the two central pillars of his manhood. The story is concerned with the conflict between his conception of himself and the reality. When Arthurs court was challenged by the Green Knight, Gawain alone offered to take the cup from Arthurs hands. He showed pride and courage greater than all - by coming forward. The poem is filled with opportunities in which Gawain inevitably was forced to face difficult decisions. During his travels he had every opportunity to turn around, especially wh en the rain and cold and desolation became fierce. Gawain, however, continued on his way. Three times did the lady tempt him and twice he managed to neither offend her with discourteousness nor accept her amorous advances and defile his chastity. In destinies sad or merry, True men can but try. Tests and decisions are as many in any mans life as are the beats of his heart. The consequences follow him forever - he is judged by them and they affect his entire existence. However, judgement should not be passed on a mans single decisions individually, but only by observing how he has chosen to live his life. The circumstances under which each choice has been do should be considered as well. From the start Gawain was facing not only the ruination of his pride, his good name, and his spirit, but also almost certain death. As a result, he learns an essential, inescapable fact about himself and human nature - there is no shame in being imperfect. The true test of Gawains bravery was t o bare his grapple to the Green Knight and finish their trading of blows. Even with his magic girdle, Gawain flinched the first time. The second and third times he was able to hold steady and accept fate. later the ordeal the Green Knight ridiculed him for his weakness and fear.