Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Analysis

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In the legends of Arthur and the Round Table, chivalry and honor rule over the court in order to ensure that law and order run smoothly throughout the kingdom. Unfortunately, this type of system tends to lead to wounded pride or revenge which then can only be solved by violent reactions towards even the most dear of friends and even relatives. This response, natural to all mankind, happens to be a stumbling block to the knights who wish for Christ-likeness, but also to keep their honor and valor. In both Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Morte D’Arthur the knights demonstrate a sort of violence, whether intentionally or unintentionally, towards others in an attempt to be chivalric and Christ-like. No matter how much effort Gawain or any of…show more content…
The green knight gives Gawain a choice in how he delivers the blow, he does not necessarily tell Gawain that the only way to play the “game” is to cut the head of his opponent off. Gawain walks into this fight with the intention of killing the knight in order to protect his own knightly valor and pride which is wounded by the words of the knight against the court. Gawain takes the challenge upset and wounded by the knights accusations and scoffing at the men that are considered fearless, virtuous and brave who are “skittled and scuppered by a stranger” (Sir Gawain 314). and by this shows his humanity, even as the epitome of a perfect Christian knight. Victoria Weiss’s review of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight says that while his acceptance of the challenge displays his humility it also demonstrates “an excessive adherence to valor and a lack of concern for life” as one who claims to be as Christ-like as possible “aggressively and impulsively” handles the ax in an attempt to kill another human being (Weiss 363-364). In doing so, Gawain fails to recognize the fact that he can fight the knight and still protect the sanctity of human life as one who claims to be a Christian. Because of…show more content…
Lancelot also shows no concern for human life that keeps him away from his goal, although in doing so he saved the life of Guinevere, Lancelot accidentally killed those who were not hostile at all and in fact unarmed and not ready to take action in any way. This violence not only attacks those who are enemies of the knight but also those who are considered friends with the same fervor, thus turning friends, Gawain and Lancelot, into enemies which only results in Gawain’s death in his pursuit of
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