Chastity In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is not only a romance story of the medieval period but also a ghost story because it grips a weird tale of thrillers and morality that expresses a quest full of tests and temptations as analyzed in this text. Sir Gawain’s impending fate that waits for him at the Green Chapel hinges on his behavior with the lady in the castle. Although there were three hunts accompanied with the three temptations, the temptations have dire consequences if Gawain succumbs to them. The lady is clearly offering herself to Sir Gawain, perhaps to test his chastity. Although Gawain’s chastity is not a main focal point of the five virtues, it is implied since he is, Mary’s Knight. Gawain is obviously attracted to her, the same sexual …show more content…
The lady is a worthy opponent. She seems to accept Gawain’s refusal to her advances and bids him goodbye, but then accuses him of not being himself, This is surprising to Gawain because he thought he had won this round. The lady has returned his constant denials by hitting him in his weakest spot, his courtesy. This is such a great concern to him that he accepts her offer before even considering the outcome of it. The temptations go beyond the parameters when the lady wins and embraces Sir Gawain with a triumphant kiss. The temptations on the third morning are curt and purposeful. Perhaps this is a way to efficiently humanize Gawain, who has been too distantly impeccable during his expedition. The poet hints that Gawain is at risk of succumbing to her, However, Gawain may have simply wanted her, because she was such a contrast to his nightmare of his impending fate that waits for him with the Green Knight. Again, there are many advances from the lady, which Gawain consistently denies her. She seems to finally give in, only until asking for a gift before they both depart. Gawain, being a knight of the chivalric code, cannot gift the lady, simply because he does not have anything of any