Honor In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

A true knight of the round table was defined by his honor and his ability to be a noble warrior. To be commended in such high prestige, one had to abide by a strict code of ethics. This code of chivalry included perseverance, courage, humility, respect, courtesy, and loyalty. Men who could openly live by these virtues were worthy enough to be held in high esteem by the medieval society. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a newly appointed knight of King Arthur’s court aspires to follow the code and thus reach the pinnacle of his knighthood glory. Although Sir Gawain committed acts that breached the Code of Chivalry, he can still be considered honorable because he wholeheartedly serves his king and proves that he is deserving of distinction as a knight. First of all, Sir Gawain bravely and courteously serves his king by politely requesting to accept the challenge offered by the Green Knight. During a holiday celebration between Arthur and …show more content…
After having been granted permission to take the challenge from King Arthur, Sir Gawain immediately grabbed the ax, “hefted it high,” then “swiftly slashed” at the Green Knight’s neck. Sir Gawain did what he agreed to do and “the fair head fell from the neck to the floor of the hall” (215). The entire task was not yet complete however. The Green Knight then instructed Sir Gawain to find him at the Green Chapel a year and a day later so he could return the strike with his ax. As promised, Sir Gawain honored the knight’s request and set out to find the Green Knight’s chapel and conclude their deal. Like a true knight of the round table, Sir Gawain did not shy away from the idea of being struck by an ax. Instead, he “bowed his head” as “the man in green made ready to strike,” persevering to the end of his enterprise and fulfilling his