Chivalry is a concept that has been prominent in stories for hundreds of years. Because chivalry was originally a code followed by knights, the clearest examples of it can be found in medieval texts, such as the Arthurian legend. Generally speaking, knights following the chivalric code were supposed to believe in and fear God, defend everyone (but especially the weak), obey authority, accept challenges from equals, and overall be honorable, honest guys who even go so far as to respect women. Amazing for medieval times. No wonder people still bring up chivalry to this day. The Arthurian legend is chock-full of chivalric knights. Arthur himself is plenty honorable and good -- the whole legend is all about him, and he does wonderful things like
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In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain steps up to the Green Knight’s weird challenge. The Green Knight, essentially, is ultimately testing Gawain’s honesty -- he would accept a blow from Gawain only under the condition that Gawain would accept a blow from him a year and a day later. Gawain beheads the knight, who just picks up his head and rides off. Everyone celebrates. Gawain, a year later, is on his way to meet the knight again, and he stays in a castle owned by Bertilak de Hautdesert. Bertilak welcomes Gawain and treats him kindly, and offers him a deal. He proposes that, when he goes hunting, he will give Gawain whatever he catches -- but only if Gawain gives Bertilak whatever he receives during the day. At first, Gawain honors their agreement. A woman comes to him in the night and tries to seduce him, but, each time she comes, Gawain refuses her. All he gets from her is kisses, so all Bertilak receives in the mornings is those kisses. Eventually, the woman insists that Gawain take a girdle from her, because it will protect him from bodily harm. Gawain takes it, because he is pretty sure that he will die the next day, and he keeps it, instead of giving it to Bertilak. Later, when Gawain goes to receive the blow from the Green Knight, he is protected by the girdle, but the Green Knight turns out to be Bertilak. Bertilak tells Gawain that it was all a trick, and Gawain feels horrible for not being
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain steps up to the Green Knight’s weird challenge. The Green Knight, essentially, is ultimately testing Gawain’s honesty -- he would accept a blow from Gawain only under the condition that Gawain would accept a blow from him a year and a day later. Gawain beheads the knight, who just picks up his head and rides off. Everyone celebrates. Gawain, a year later, is on his way to meet the knight again, and he stays in a castle owned by Bertilak de Hautdesert. Bertilak welcomes Gawain and treats him kindly, and offers him a deal. He proposes that, when he goes hunting, he will give Gawain whatever he catches -- but only if Gawain gives Bertilak whatever he receives during the day. At first, Gawain honors their agreement. A woman comes to him in the night and tries to seduce him, but, each time she comes, Gawain refuses her. All he gets from her is kisses, so all Bertilak receives in the mornings is those kisses. Eventually, the woman insists that Gawain take a girdle from her, because it will protect him from bodily harm. Gawain takes it, because he is pretty sure that he will die the next day, and he keeps it, instead of giving it to Bertilak. Later, when Gawain goes to receive the blow from the Green Knight, he is protected by the girdle, but the Green Knight turns out to be Bertilak. Bertilak tells Gawain that it was all a trick, and Gawain feels horrible for not being