Examples Of Allegory In Sir Gawain

If you were to look at the life of Sir Gawain, what would you see? Many people see his life as an allegory for human nature. At the beginning of his knighthood, Gawain was a feeble man. He thought of himself as the weakest, least important knight. When he stepped up to accept the challenge that the Green Knight proposed on Arthur and the knights of the Round Table, he showed honor and respect for his uncle and the other knights of the Round Table. This quality shows us that in the course of human nature, you will step up when it counts, even if you are the weakest person in the room. Gawain said on page 36 of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo, "I am the feeblest, and the least loss, if I live not, if one would learn the truth." All of these attributes mirror what the begging of human nature is - think you are not good enough. Throughout,

While there, he makes a deal similar to his deal with the Green Knight. Gawain meets the lady of the castle. She comes to Gawain's room three times and tries to temp him. With Gawain being the representation of true chivalry, he turns down the ladies offer of adultery the first two times she is found in his room. When Gawain politely refuses her offer, she leaves him with a kiss. Gawain, abiding by his deal with the lord of the castle, gives him a kiss. The second time Gawain refuses the lady, she leaves him with two kisses. Again, Gawain gives the lord two kisses. On the third time the lady comes into his bedroom, she offers Gawain something that will save his life. As Gawain accepts the token of survival, he loses his innocence and his own value system. This is the point where Gawain isn't the representation of true chivalry. This is when Gawain is presented with human nature. Instead of following the deal with the lord, Gawain gives him three kisses instead of the infamous object that will save him life. Gawain became