Listen, Gawain is a great knight. He's loyal to his king; he lives by his knightly code; and he never strays away from a challenge...even when that challenge is unknown from an unknown knight in all green armor that invaded on the feast your king was hosting. I find Gawain's courage in the beginning to be astounding. Although it took him a good while to accept the green knight's challenge, and he only accepted it to save Arthur the trouble; he still possessed the courage to take the ax and strike the knight. Gawain is defending his king and at the same time showing off his knightly valor. The challenge is completed, the green knight recovers his severed head and leaves, and Gawain is stuck for the next year that he must return the blow to the green knight in one year's time. Gawain at this point was on medieval death row. Talk about a punishment; Gawain now must sit for an entire year knowing that his coming death will be that of decapitation.
Gawain then travels in search of the green knight and stumbles along a king and his castle and is faced with another challenge there. Gawain is told to repay to his host what he has received while his host is out hunting in the mornings. Gawain follows through with the promise on the first two nights. He is then caught by the same woman that visited him the past two days asking for "more." Gawain in his knightly manner denies her the favor and instead accepts a cloth that prevents death. Man, what a snag! A cloth that can prevent me from dying when I know my death awaits me in a couple of days? Sign me up!
This has me disgruntled, as Gawain received this cloth during the time his host was out, so he must give it to the host. Gawain, however, decides to keep the cloth a secret and then leaves to confront the green knight.
A knight such as Gawain, who has been built up to be this noble and honorable fellow, is then seen lying to his host in order to save his own life? That's untrustworthy and dishonorable, and if Arthur were to find out, I'm sure Gawain would no longer be welcome at the round table. It seems like a minor offense, but the cloth given to him had magical properties able to defy death. I'd say that Gawain should accept his fate and carry out the knight's challenge willingly, knowing that he will not survive. I'd rather die honorably than to be known as a liar and thief.
I commented on Natalie's and Alex's.
Pineapple does not go on pizza...
Someone has a grudge.
ReplyDeleteAll joking aside, I've always looked at stories such as this and just made it a common understanding that we will see people placed in power who will, because of fear, abandon values and virtue to maintain status. Don't we all suffer from an abandonment of the right way when our panic ridden, sinful soul listens for the "answer" within our own minds? Fools, all are fools.