Sam Callahan
Ms. Morris
English 12-6th period
5 December 2016
The Similarities Between Sir Gawain and Lord Bercilak
Some men are enemies because of their own opinions. While others are just brought about on different sides of certain ideals. Those men can be complete opposites from each other because of those ideals. But for Sir Gawain and Lord Bercilak they are similar, in more ways than one, even as they face off against each other. In Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, Lord Bercilak and Sir Gawain face off, but they have many significant similarities such as being noble warriors, honorable men, and rarefied individuals. Gawain and Lord Bercilak are both known as noble warriors, in part for what they do in the story. Early on in Sir Gawain …show more content…
Sir Gawain takes the chance and uses a magical belt to protect himself. When Gawain is called out on using the belt he is ashamed. “You are so fully confessed, your failings made known”, “I hold you polished as a pearl, as pure and as bright as you had lived free of fault” (Unknown 183). But Lord Bercilak uses this opportunity to lift Gawain up and tell him that he did things that most men do not, and that he is as pure as when he was born. When Sir Gawain takes the journey to find the green knight, he stays at the Green Chapel with Lord Bercilak and makes a deal with him.” Regarded, particularly for his earlier romances, as the model of chivalry, pure, brave, and courteous” (Gawain, par. 1). Whatever he receives while he is there he will give to Lord Bercilak. On the first two days Lady Bercilak makes advances on Sir Gawain and he refuses. But on the third she convinces him to take a magical belt to protect himself. Gawain takes the belt and does not turn it over to Lord Bercilak. Even though Gawain failed to hold strong on his deal, he did not give into the temptations of Lady Bercilak and in the end, that mattered most to Lord Bercilak, and it proved to him that Gawain is an honorable …show more content…
Lord Bercilak is a man who stands above other men by his mere appearance. an added physiological absurdity, even his speech goes unimpaired by the decapitation. “He retrieves his head and mounts his horse as though none had him ailed” (Cipher of Chivalry,313). Lord Bercilak also has a magical presence to him, when Gawain takes the swing at him his head is chopped off. Only then does he merely pick it up, get on his horse and leave. Adding to the mystery and rarity behind the individual seen in the story. On the other side, Gawain is a mere man who has no special abilities what so ever. But it is his courage and integrity that make him a rare commodity in Arthur’s kingdom. “Would you grant me the grace,” said Gawain to the King, “To be gone from this bench and standby you there” (Unknown 174). When Lord Bercilak challenges any man to a challenge in Arthur’s kingdom, not one man takes him up on his challenge. When no knight came to the defense of his Kingdom Arthur took matters into his own hands, but Gawain would not let his king do that and took up the challenge when some of the greatest warriors would not. And in doing so he would put himself on a path to be one of the most well-known knights, as well as a knight that would stand above the rest in King Arthur’s
Ms. Morris
English 12-6th period
5 December 2016
The Similarities Between Sir Gawain and Lord Bercilak
Some men are enemies because of their own opinions. While others are just brought about on different sides of certain ideals. Those men can be complete opposites from each other because of those ideals. But for Sir Gawain and Lord Bercilak they are similar, in more ways than one, even as they face off against each other. In Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, Lord Bercilak and Sir Gawain face off, but they have many significant similarities such as being noble warriors, honorable men, and rarefied individuals. Gawain and Lord Bercilak are both known as noble warriors, in part for what they do in the story. Early on in Sir Gawain …show more content…
Sir Gawain takes the chance and uses a magical belt to protect himself. When Gawain is called out on using the belt he is ashamed. “You are so fully confessed, your failings made known”, “I hold you polished as a pearl, as pure and as bright as you had lived free of fault” (Unknown 183). But Lord Bercilak uses this opportunity to lift Gawain up and tell him that he did things that most men do not, and that he is as pure as when he was born. When Sir Gawain takes the journey to find the green knight, he stays at the Green Chapel with Lord Bercilak and makes a deal with him.” Regarded, particularly for his earlier romances, as the model of chivalry, pure, brave, and courteous” (Gawain, par. 1). Whatever he receives while he is there he will give to Lord Bercilak. On the first two days Lady Bercilak makes advances on Sir Gawain and he refuses. But on the third she convinces him to take a magical belt to protect himself. Gawain takes the belt and does not turn it over to Lord Bercilak. Even though Gawain failed to hold strong on his deal, he did not give into the temptations of Lady Bercilak and in the end, that mattered most to Lord Bercilak, and it proved to him that Gawain is an honorable …show more content…
Lord Bercilak is a man who stands above other men by his mere appearance. an added physiological absurdity, even his speech goes unimpaired by the decapitation. “He retrieves his head and mounts his horse as though none had him ailed” (Cipher of Chivalry,313). Lord Bercilak also has a magical presence to him, when Gawain takes the swing at him his head is chopped off. Only then does he merely pick it up, get on his horse and leave. Adding to the mystery and rarity behind the individual seen in the story. On the other side, Gawain is a mere man who has no special abilities what so ever. But it is his courage and integrity that make him a rare commodity in Arthur’s kingdom. “Would you grant me the grace,” said Gawain to the King, “To be gone from this bench and standby you there” (Unknown 174). When Lord Bercilak challenges any man to a challenge in Arthur’s kingdom, not one man takes him up on his challenge. When no knight came to the defense of his Kingdom Arthur took matters into his own hands, but Gawain would not let his king do that and took up the challenge when some of the greatest warriors would not. And in doing so he would put himself on a path to be one of the most well-known knights, as well as a knight that would stand above the rest in King Arthur’s