Read the excerpt from "Gawayne."
At last the long evening was over, the last measure danced, the last wine-cup drained, the bride escorted to her chamber, the lights out, the guests separated in their rooms, and Gawayne was free to think of what he had done, and to consider how he had ruined his whole hope of happiness. He thought of his uncle's favour, of the poor lady's gratitude, of the blessing she had invoked upon him, and he determined to be gentle with her, though he could never love her as his wife. He entered the bride-chamber with the feeling of a man who has made up his mind to endure, and did not even look towards his bride, who sat awaiting him beside the fire. Choosing a chair, he sat down and looked sadly into the glowing embers and spoke no word.
Which statement best explains the conflict in this excerpt?
Gawayne has a conflict with himself because he has married a lady whom he does not love, and he fears lifelong unhappiness.
Gawayne has a conflict with himself because he married the lady just to please the king, and he feels angry.
Gawayne has a conflict with himself because he loves another lady, whom he will never be able to marry now.
Gawayne has a conflict with himself because he doubts that the lady has invoked any blessings for the king.
The statement that best explains the conflict in this excerpt is "Gawayne has a conflict with himself because he has married a lady whom he does not love, and he fears lifelong unhappiness." This is evident in the excerpt when Gawayne "thought of his uncle's favor, of the poor lady's gratitude, of the blessing she had invoked upon him, and he determined to be gentle with her, though he could never love her as his wife."
To determine the best explanation for the conflict in this excerpt, we can analyze the information provided. In the passage, Gawayne is described as being free to think about what he has done and how he has ruined his hope of happiness. He specifically thinks about his uncle's favor, the poor lady's gratitude, and the blessing she had invoked upon him. Additionally, it is mentioned that Gawayne determines to be gentle with the lady, even though he does not love her as his wife.
From this information, we can understand that the conflict in this excerpt is primarily within Gawayne himself. He has a conflict because he has married a lady whom he does not love, and he fears lifelong unhappiness. Therefore, the statement that best explains the conflict in this excerpt is: Gawayne has a conflict with himself because he has married a lady whom he does not love, and he fears lifelong unhappiness.