Sir Gawain and the Art of Seduction
In the thrilling poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the Green Knight comes and challenges the knights of the Round Table to go to the Green Chapel and fight, which brings up the compelling question: If all the kingdom knows the knights are the best at the five virtues (friendship, generosity, chastity, courtesy, and piety), then why do they need to be tested by this mysterious knight? Sir Gawain’s strength, wit, and self-control are tested in many ways through the Lady’s attempted seductions at Lord Bertilak's castle. Gawain succeeds when he uses his strength and courtesy, but those virtues fail him during the test with the green girdle because he is tempted not to use his strength and instead use the belt in the final test.
Sir Gawain’s courtesy fails in the Lady’s sexual seduction by accepting kisses from a married woman. He loses his sense of courtesy because he is cheating with another man’s wife, but he …show more content…
The lady promises safety only if he conceals it, meaning he has to lie which breaks one or more of five virtues. After a while Sir Gawain reaches a turning point, giving in to her seduction: “Then the prince pondered, and it appeared to him / A precious gem to protect him in the peril appointed him” (III.74). This evidence makes Sir Gawain realizes that it could save him, and he agrees to lie after his huge moral debate: “That never should another know of it, the noble swore” (III.74).
Over all Sir Gawain does not resemble the rest of the noble and valiant knights of the Round Table. He has failed the test of seduction and strength. Sir Gawain should be known as the bravest knight of the Round Table, but he cheated his way in the final battle with the Green Knight. All in all he completed his test even though many personal failures came upon him when doing
In the thrilling poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the Green Knight comes and challenges the knights of the Round Table to go to the Green Chapel and fight, which brings up the compelling question: If all the kingdom knows the knights are the best at the five virtues (friendship, generosity, chastity, courtesy, and piety), then why do they need to be tested by this mysterious knight? Sir Gawain’s strength, wit, and self-control are tested in many ways through the Lady’s attempted seductions at Lord Bertilak's castle. Gawain succeeds when he uses his strength and courtesy, but those virtues fail him during the test with the green girdle because he is tempted not to use his strength and instead use the belt in the final test.
Sir Gawain’s courtesy fails in the Lady’s sexual seduction by accepting kisses from a married woman. He loses his sense of courtesy because he is cheating with another man’s wife, but he …show more content…
The lady promises safety only if he conceals it, meaning he has to lie which breaks one or more of five virtues. After a while Sir Gawain reaches a turning point, giving in to her seduction: “Then the prince pondered, and it appeared to him / A precious gem to protect him in the peril appointed him” (III.74). This evidence makes Sir Gawain realizes that it could save him, and he agrees to lie after his huge moral debate: “That never should another know of it, the noble swore” (III.74).
Over all Sir Gawain does not resemble the rest of the noble and valiant knights of the Round Table. He has failed the test of seduction and strength. Sir Gawain should be known as the bravest knight of the Round Table, but he cheated his way in the final battle with the Green Knight. All in all he completed his test even though many personal failures came upon him when doing