The Character Of Chivalry In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

In Titus 3:2 it says “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people (ESV).” If there were a verse to symbolize the idea of a perfect knight, it would be Titus 3:2. It exemplifies the rules of chivalry back in the medieval romance period very well. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain illustrates the rules of chivalry and event to the point where some consider him the perfect knight. Unfortunately though, there are times throughout the poem that he displays his imperfections, but do they outweigh all the multiple other positive attributes and decisions he makes? One of his positive qualities that could make him a perfect knight, is his constant humble nature. When we are first introduced to the green knight, who challenges the Arthur and

While resting at the castle, he encounters the Lady of the Castle. Over time, she attempts to seduce him and he does his best to repel her efforts. “And so she tested him, pushed and probed, trying to tempt him, pretending love, and Gawain was so gracefully evasive that he seemed always polite, and nothing happened…”(page 104). Regrettably, while he was valiant in not letting her seduce him, he accepts the belt from her and keeps it from the king, whom he had a bargain with to give him whatever he had gotten from the day. Gawain later redeemed himself, when he and his guide were searching for the green knights home. Gawain’s guide begs him to flee, to run away, and promises that he would never tell anyone, but Gawain refuses, saying, “I believe you’d keep it secret, I believe you. But however loyally you lied, if I rode away, fled for fear, as you tell me, I’d be a coward no knight could excuse. Whatever comes, I’m going to that chapel…”(page 122-123). Gawain would have likely gotten away if he had run, but he refuses to fall into temptation, because he knows the