Characterization Of Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

Characterization of Sir Gawain The success of a literary work is directly related to the strength of the protagonist. Some stories characterize the hero so strongly that the tale remains relevant to humankind for centuries. The poem “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”, author unknown, is an excellent example of this circumstance. Sir Gawain can be characterized in many different ways, and the believability of his character makes the poem “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” very relevant today. The young knight Gawain strives to perfectly uphold the knightly code of courtesy and chivalry; however, no human can follow anything perfectly. Sir Gawain falls to the common urge of self-preservation, proving that he is a complex, flawed, and well-written …show more content…
Sir Gawain is a young knight, and the nephew of King Arthur. It is a common assumption that young people are not wise because they are inexperienced; however, experience does not equal wisdom. I believe that wisdom is how well a person uses their knowledge and applies it in a situation. Sir Gawain may not be as experienced as other knights, but he has has proven his wisdom on many occasions, including how well he evaded the seduction attempts, and how he didn’t try to avoid meeting the Green Knight. Gawain’s public reputation is important to him, a weakness which the Host’s wife exploits. Sir Gawain is not perfect, no matter how much he desires to be. Gawain could be seen as the product of the code, and is described as …show more content…
The poem exemplifies basic aspects of human nature, such as self-preservation, and human nature hasn’t changed since it was written. Although the struggles that Gawain goes through took place centuries ago, the morals of the situations can still be applied today. The young knight can still be a role model for the 21st century, because he endures harsh testing, and still upholds his morals. An honest, courteous person who follows through with what they said they would do would be a role model in any time period. Gawain worries about how the world perceives him, strives for personal growth, and wants to be perfect in all of his dealings. In all of these aspects, I can personally relate to Gawain. I am a perfectionist and put pressure on myself to be the best that I can be, and if Sir Gawain were living in modern times, I believe that he would act the same way. The good qualities that Gawain possesses are timeless; therefore, the poem is relevant today, and will continue to be relevant in years to