Sir Gawain A Man of Virtue Essay - 861 Words

Sir Gawain: A Man of Virtue Nobility, honesty, valiance and chivalry are the values instilled in Sir Gawain. He is a respected knight due to these characteristics. Both Sir Gawain and The Green Knight and in The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell present these qualities of Sir Gawain. In both tales, he proves these traits through many events. Sir Gawain and The Green Knight proves Sir Gawain’s nobility and honesty while The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell provides proof of his chivalry and virtue. The author of Sir Gawain and The Green Knight describes Sir Gawain as the good knight (Norton 204) within the first few verses of the story. He is said to be the most courteous knight (Norton 215) of Arthur’s court as†¦show more content†¦The knight known as Sir Gawain is one of the most honest and noble. This is presented by Sands in the anonymous work of literature, The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell. His loyalty and nobility to his king heighten his stature as a knight of the royal kingdom. He displays his knowledge of his rank in the comitatus when he speaks to King Arthur: Is this alle? I shalle wed her and wed her again, Thoughe she were a fend, Thoughe she were as foulle as Belsabub, Her shalle I wed, by the rood, Or elles were not I your frende; For ye ar my king with honour And have worshipt me in many a stoure. (Sands 334) GRAPH The noble knight, Sir Gawain, is responding to the story that King Arthur recites to him. The king is describing the proposition made to him by the hag. The knight, instead of rejecting marriage to the hag, accepts her right away. Even though he knows that she is an ugly hag, he feels it is his duty to his king to marry this woman. The unknown poet of Sir Gawain and The Green Knight commends Sir Gawain’s honor and dignity in much the same way as the anonymous author of The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell. When Sir Gawain confronts the Green Knight upon concealing the belt given to him by the lady, he says: I confess, knight, in this place, Most dire is my misdeed; Let me gain back your good grace, AndShow MoreRelatedSir Gawain And The Green Knight927 Words   |  4 PagesBoth Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and The Franklin’s Tale are set in a world where the laws of nature and order are turned upside down through the use of magic. In this Medieval world, death is escaped, men have the ability to shapeshift, and the impossible becomes entirely possible. What the Christian God set as earthly law, magic, created by the devil himself, subverts into illogical manifestations. 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It shows many ways that â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† are perfect and the emphasis on the importance of the chivalric code. Despite its divine origins, the chivalric code is ultimately a human ideal. Chivalry is not a trait naturally found in man, but rather a concept constructedRead MoreThe Code Of Chivalry By Sir Gawain And The Green Knight1653 Words   |  7 PagesMedieval times. The world of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is governed by these well-defined codes of behavior. The code of chivalry, in particular, molds the values and actions of Sir Gawain and other characters in the poem. The ideals of Christian morality and knightly chivalry are brought together in Gawain’s symbolic shield. The pentangle represents the five virtues of knights: friendship, generosity, chastity, courtesy, and piety. Gawain’s adherence to these virtues is being tested throughout