Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay

What does it mean to be a knight? In the medieval romance Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, by an unidentified author, Gawain, a knight of King Arthur, stays at a mysterious castle for three days while on his way to find a mysterious green knight. During Gawain’s three-day stay, he plays a game with the lord of the castle. The lord goes hunting while Gawain stays with the lord’s wife. At the end of each day, they exchange their winnings. Gawain’s three days with the lady reveal his oath to the knightly virtues. Gawain exhibits courtly love, chastity, and courtesy. On the first day, Gawain displays courtly love to the lady. The lady enters Gawain's room while he is sleeping and attempts to flirt and flatter him, but Gawain dodges her advances.

52). Gawain kisses the lady because it is respectful to do so as a knight. He had no intention of doing anything further. He had vowed to stay true to his knightly virtues, which in this case is courtly love. During his first day with the lady, Gawain respects the lady by showing her courtly love. On the second day, Gawain shows chastity by resisting the lady’s temptation. The lady goes into Gawain’s bedroom, again making romantic advances on him. The narrator says, “Thus she tested and tried him, tempting him often, so as to allure him to love-making,. But his defense was so fair that no fault could be seen”(Fit 61). Despite the lady’s enticement, Gawain still manages to deflect her flattery. Gawain stayed loyal to his knighthood by not surrendering himself to his sexual desires. On this day, he renews his oath by staying virtuous during the lady’s attempt to lure him. By abstaining from the lady’s seduction, Gawain proves his celibacy. Others may think Gawain is not courteous because he impolitely rejects the lady on the third day. The lady makes many romantic advances on him, which Gawain turns down dismissively. Contrary to this, Gawain had to reject the lady for being

Gawain did not want to offend the lady. However, he eventually had no choice but to be dismissive. The narrator explains, “[Sir Gawain] cared for his courtesy, lest a caitiff he proved, / yet more for this sad case, if he should sin commit / and to the owner of the house, to his host, be a traitor” (Fit 71). Gawain knew that by rejecting the lady, he seemed discourteous. However, he also understood that becoming a traitor to the Lord was of much greater sin. Gawain resists the lady’s advances as a display of courtesy. On the third day, Gawain maintains his courteous behavior by being loyal to the lord. In conclusion, Gawain displays his pledge to the Knight Code during his sojourn with the