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Sir Gawain's Journey Analysis

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Gawain’s Journey What makes a hero? A cape? A villain? A sidekick? How about a journey with a call to adventure, assistance, trials, a crisis, treasure, and a new life. Most hero’s follow a cycle called the hero’s journey. Take for instance Sir Gawain of Camelot. Gawain gets a call to adventure and assistance. Then trials and a crisis. Finally Gawain finds treasure and begins his new life. In the tails of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, Sir Gawain’s journey follows that of a hero. Gawain’s journey begins with a call to adventure and assistance. It all starts when he accepts the Green Knight’s challenge. He says to King Arthur, “ ‘My lord and great uncle, grant me a boon! Let this adventure be mine, for still there is my old …show more content…

When Gawain arrives at the Green Chapel he is told to take his helmet off. The Green Knight said, “ ‘Now I will repay the stroke you dealt me at Camelot and none shall come between us is this lonely valley. Take off your helmet and make ready for the blow!’ “ (113). The Green Knight swings his axe but does not hit Gawain. Gawain and the Green Knight tells Gawain, “ ‘You are surely not Gawain the brave, thus to fear even the whistle of the blade! When you struck off my head in King Arthur’s hall I never flinched from your blow!’ “ (113). Gawain assures the Green Knight he will not flinch again and the Green Knight swings again, but still does not hit Gawain. The next time, the Green Knight hits Gawain and makes a deep cut in his neck, but does not cut his head off. Although short and easy, these were Gawain’s trials. His crisis was painful but not impossible to …show more content…

After being struck by the Green Knight, the Green Knight tells him that he is the king Gawain met during his journey. The Green Knight said the first two swings were for the two days Gawain told the truth. The cut in his neck is for the day he told only half the truth. If Gawain had not told the truth his head would have been cut off. Gawain learns that honesty is rewarding and lying has consequences. He is changed by the experience and travels back to Camelot, “ ‘Gawain rode back swiftly through the forest of Wirral, and after many more adventures he came to Camelot’ “(116). The narrator says King Arthur, “ ‘set him at his place at the round table. And of all the knights who ever sat there, few indeed were so worthy as Gawain.’ “(116). His treasure is not physical but is well earned and still fits the hero’s journey. He learns a lesson of honesty and honorability. As changed man and a more honest knight, Gawain travels back to King Arthur’s court to begin a better

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The main theme of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is the journey to maturity of Gawain, the hero. During the passage, Gawain goes through three tests on his development. First, Gawain shows courage and resourcefulness when he volunteers to take the Green Knight’s challenge instead of Arthur doing so. Second, Gawain shows authority, self-restraint, and integrity when he denies the sexual endeavours of the lady of the house. Lastly, Gawain shows bravery when he faces death by keeping his meeting with the Green

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During the 3 swings from the axe of the Green Knight, we are able to view several parts of Gawain’s true character. During the first stroke, Gawain flinches and shrinks his shoulders back slightly; clearly fearing the pain his natural instincts tell him accompanies the blade. The Green Knight scoffs at this display of cowardice, exclaiming, “You are not Gawain the glorious, the green man said…and now you flee for fear and have felt no harm” (58. 2270-2272) mocking the brave Gawain’s momentary lack of courage and pointing out the cracks in his character that illustrate his true lack of perfection. During the second stroke, Gawain remains resolute and shows no weakness through the Green Knight’s second feint and Gawain survives the final stroke without so much as a slight nick from the great blade. Gawain proves that although many men strive to live by virtues that allow them to be unfaltering in the face of impending adversity such as the act that Gawain attempts to fulfill unwaveringly.

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Which led to the Green Knight explaining to Gawain that he is actually the same lord of the castle where Gawain spent his holidays. The first two blows, he claims, were in return for the way Gawain returned the kisses of his wife, following the rules of their game as an honest man should. The third blow, he says, was for Gawain’s failure to return the green girdle to him on the last day. But because Gawain’s failing was only because he wanted to save his life, and not because he's just dishonorable, the Green Knight forgives him. He leaves Gawain with only a scar and a girdle as a reminder of his very human sin.

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Although Sir Gawain does not want to take the Green Knight’s challenge, he honorable takes the place of King Arthur and lies about his worth. The Green Knight arrives carrying an axe and holly, symbolizing peace and war, but tells them that he “travel[s] in peace and seek[s] no trouble” (12). Despite saying that he wants no trouble, he proposes a game involves one strike with his axe by whoever is brave enough for another done by him a year later. The court is baffled by his request, and when no one speaks up to take the Green Knights challenge, he ridicules them by conveying that “all the pageantry and power of the Round Table made nothing by the words of one man” (13). After the Green Knight finishes mocking the Knights of the Round Table, Arthur boldly takes the challenge until Sir Gawain politely requested to take his place.

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