How Did Sir Lancelot Fail To Break The Code Of Chivalry

During the late Middle Ages (1066-1485), a moral code came out that the medieval knights had to follow. This term was the code of chivalry. The code of chivalry was, at times, very hard to stay loyal to. Throughout this period, literature amongst the king and knights lives had a major role. In this time period there were multiple knights and kings. Being that said, there were plenty of them to follow the code of chivalry. However, each one are tested throughout their time. These test were just simple things to prove if they were loyal to the code and their lord or if they were not. Many had failed to prove their loyalty, which very few had succeeded (“Chivalry”). King Uther, Sir Gawain, and Sir Lancelot have put their loyalty on the line, but

Sir Lancelot was great friends with King Arthur, until he decided to fall through with breaking the code. After Guinevere had teased Lancelot by touching his arm and sending chills through his body, the met up together. The author says, “Their bodies locked together as though a trap had sprung. Their mouths met and devoured the other” (Steinbeck pg. 28). King Arthur trusted Sir Lancelot, little did he know what King Arthur’s wife, Guinevere, and Sir Lancelot had for each other. After all three of them being together talking, Lancelot and Guinevere decide to take it a step further with each other since they had sensed their feelings for each other when she kept touching his arm as a tease. Lancelot becomes weak and guilty for doing this to his bestfriend behind his back. Not only his bestfriend, but a King that you were supposed to respect and stay loyal to. Disobeying the king was the reason why the code was broken by Sir

Sir Gawain had taken on a challenge when a Green Knight had entered the hall. The Green Knight wanted to play a game that was with somebody to take an axe and give the knight a blow. Sir Gawain steps up to do so because he has nothing to lose and is the weakest of all who is there. So to finish the game, in a year and a day Sir Gawain must show up to the green chapel to receive the same blow he has given the Green Knight. Eventually the time had come that he meets up with the knight. He comes across a castle and the lord and his lady offered him to stay, but the lord and Sir Gawain “agree to exchange whatever they receive during the next three days”. The translator then adds, “Sir Gawain keeps his pledge for the first two days, but he fails to give the lord the magic green girdle that the lady gives him on the third day, because she gives it with the promise that it will protect him from harm” (“from Sir Gawain…” pg. 17). Sir Gawain broke the code of chivalry, but it was to protect himself from harm he possibly could’ve received from the Green