Christian Chivalry In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

The Gawain poet portrays the Christian chivalric code as an ultimate human model, involving the pursuit for Christ-like perfection. At the beginning of the poem, the poet depicts King Arthur as the “most regal of rulers in the royal line” (Gawain poet, 25, 186), who is most honorable and noblest amongst his knights. His court functions by a Christian chivalrous code, in which bravery and courtesy become the testament in which produces a characters standing. However, the arrival of the Green Knight signals the abrupt destruction of this ideal, leaving both court and Sir Gawain to abandon their loyalty to the code. The contrast of atmosphere, reception, and the nature of sensual temptation in Bertilak’s court versus Arthur’s court, illustrates Arthur’s court fails to abide to the standard code of Christian chivalry by being discourteous and narrow-minded. In conclusion, the …show more content…
Upon Gawain’s entrance into Bertilak’s castle, he is immediately shown civility despite the court being unaware of his intention. The subjects of Bertilak’s court surround Gawain:

“The drawbridge came down and they crossed the ditch And knelt in the frost in front of the knight To welcome this man in a way deemed worthy.” (817- 819, …show more content…
Therefore, the decorative elements mimic Sir Gawain’s garments; illustrating how prized Bertilak and his court uphold their guest. Accordingly, the use of decorative elements becomes a positive contribution to the conception of a chivalrous atmosphere, as it is the courtesy enabled by Bertilak, which insures the comfort of his guest. Evidently, the decorative elements in Bertilak’s court represent physical comfort, casting his court in a chivalrous atmosphere by demonstrating civility to their