Impetuousness In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

In the medieval story of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” the presence of unintentional doings due to Sir Gawain’s impetuousness is displayed continuously throughout the epic. Opposing views claim that Sir Gawain was in fact, aware of the outcomes as a result of his actions and calculated thoughts. There certainly might be evidence to this claim such as the following statement made by Gawain, “such a foolish affair is fitting for a king, so; being first to come forward, it should fall to me” (191). The following quote shows the pleading of Sir Gawain insisting that he must take king Arthur’s place when the Green Knight offers a game to king. As Sir Gawain requests that he is best fit for the Green Knight’s game he is pondering over the thought of saving his fellowship and above all, his lord. The planning of doing so to spare the people of his court allows one to reflect on the fact that SIr Gawain was indeed aware of his actions. Although this one particular fragment from the work presents valid evidence, it is also weak when comparing to the many other pieces of texts which essentially serve as confirmation of Sir Gawain being oblivious to his actions. Nevertheless, the story commences during christmas time in Camelot when “a mountain of a man” entered king Arthur's court, or otherwise known as the Green Knight(189). The protagonist exemplifies impulsiveness when the challenge is called upon king Arthur and the Green knight requests king Arthur to, “grant me this game which I ask for by right”(191). Because Gawain has the most loyalty for his lord he then volunteers himself out of …show more content…
Through the previously discussed events of Gawain’s lack to think logically when having to face the game of the Green Knight and the tempting of the host’s wife, it is clear that he indeed did not think too much upon his