There are many archetypes in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight that help Gawain on his hero's journey. While on his journey, Gawain has learns many different lessons while dealing with these characters. As he travels deeper into the “Zone of Magnified Power” (Campbell 71), he develops as an archetypal hero and recognizes the conflict on his community. A number of characters in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight play key archetypal roles in the perfecting of the hero’s moral development.
Arthur, the king of Camelot, has become a kind of mentor for Sir Gawain. Arthur’s teachings and customs had made his knights serve him with honor. In the beginning of the medieval romance, Gawain has accepted the task from the Green Knight for Arthur and Camelot. Although he has blood ties with Arthur and has a high status among the knights at the Round Table, Gawain reveals that he is the weakest among Arthur’s knights. He accepts because he is devoted to Arthur and has great respect for him. Arthur
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She is called the temptress for her acts on Gawain to betray the host he is living with for the meantime during his quest. The temptress has lead him through three trials for three days. This seems to be some type of way to get through Gawain's religious beliefs to see whether or not he is devoted to himself and God. With each attempt to being seduced, Gawain is one step closer to the Green Knight. These three trials aid him to never be tempted by things that can have bad consequences.
The archetypal characters help Gawain’s development as an archetypal hero and helps get the overall theme that the medieval romance was trying to get across. In every hero’s journey, there is always a message that needs to be sent and understandable to the reader. From Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the concept of being honest and staying true to yourself helps you in the long run in life rather than getting out the easy