Another reading in this unit, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, included the story of a mystical visitor to King Arthur's court and a challenge he puts forth to the knights at the festivities. Thinking about the attributes of the code of chivalry, which of those attributes does Sir Gawain NOT honor in this story? Consider his behavior in the court vs his behavior at Lord Bertilak's castle.

Question

Another reading in this unit, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, included the story of a mystical visitor to King Arthur's court and a challenge he puts forth to the knights at the festivities. Thinking about the attributes of the code of chivalry, which of those attributes does Sir Gawain NOT honor in this story? Consider his behavior in the court vs his behavior at Lord Bertilak's castle.

Answer 1

To analyze Sir Gawain's behavior in the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and identify which attributes of the code of chivalry he does not honor, you will need to examine his actions both in King Arthur's court and at Lord Bertilak's castle.

First, let's discuss the code of chivalry. It is a set of virtues and rules followed by knights, which include honor, courage, loyalty, courtesy, and honesty, among others. These virtues outline a knight's duties and are expected to be upheld in every aspect of their lives.

In the court of King Arthur, Sir Gawain initially displays several attributes of the code of chivalry. He eagerly accepts the Green Knight's challenge to exchange blows and stands up for King Arthur when no other knight volunteers. However, when it comes time for Gawain to face the Green Knight, he flinches and hesitates to fulfill his promise. This indicates a lack of courage and honor, as he fails to fully uphold his end of the bargain.

At Lord Bertilak's castle, Gawain's actions become more complex. He faces temptations from Lady Bertilak, who tries to seduce him. Gawain refuses her advances, demonstrating his loyalty and honor in resisting temptation. However, he does accept the Lady's gift of a green girdle, which is said to protect the wearer from harm. This decision is deceptive and goes against the code of chivalry, specifically the virtue of honesty.

Therefore, the attribute of the code of chivalry that Sir Gawain does not fully honor in this story is honesty. His acceptance of the green girdle and failure to disclose it to Lord Bertilak is a breach of honesty, even though it is driven by his desire to survive.