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Background
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is one of the most well-known examples of the classic Medieval Arthurian romances. While the poems author is unknown, historians and literary scholars have speculated that it was written by the same Gawain-poet who wrote other narrative poems, including Pearl, Cleanness, and Patience, because the dialect in all four lyrics is similar. The poem narrates the story of Sir Gawain in his quest to find and behead the alien Green Knight. Although the poem sheds light on some of the social, political, and religious aspects of Medieval European society, its credibility is limited since it reflects the life of the elite community from a prescriptive rather than a descriptive point.
The Purpose of the Poem
Since the author is unknown, it is hard to discern the purpose of the poem. Nevertheless, readers can imply from the storys content that the author attempted to reinstate the Christian ideals of morality and honesty, among other deeds. Namely, similar to other Arthurian romances, the poem emphasizes the importance of chivalry, Christian values, sin, courtesy, and truth. While this theme can be found throughout the poem, the lines And blessed him in Christs Name, and bade him in good part to be of courage still, hardy of hand and heart. imply such motive1. Another line saying, &From treachery and untruth is sorrow born alway, indicates that the author aspires to demonize the wrong deeds such as lying and glorify moral values such as honesty2. Thus, one of the authors purposes in writing this poem is to remind his audience of the Christian ideals of honesty and loyalty, among other deeds.
Chivalric Heroism and Medieval Knighthood
One of the significant aspects of society that the poem reveals is the glorification of chivalric heroism and medieval knighthood. Firstly, the story plots the test of the protagonists honesty, loyalty, and purity as he eventually fails to dedicate himself.
Namely, the narrative depicts how Sir Gawain was punished for not telling the truth about the gift he received from the lady in the castle. The poem illustrated heroic ideals whereby knights excel at the battlefield, which is found in the line when Sir Gawain beheads the Green Knight while playing a beheading game. For instance, the line Largesse and loyalty, which do to knights belong encapsulates the idea that knights ought to be generous and honest3. Hence, chivalric knight ideals, which were an inherent part of social organization, are one of the most frequently appearing themes in the poem.
Analyzing the glorification of knightly ideals from the socio-political prism reveals a potential explanation for such a phenomenon. Hunt et al. explain the dramatization of knightly standards by referring to the public sentiment at the time, which was threatened by newly emerging merchants in the cities on the one hand and newly powerful kings on the other 4. In other words, the poem glorifies the chivalric heroism to cater to the audience, who were primarily knights, desire to mirror themselves in such romances.
Religion
The poem also significantly emphasizes Christian morality and institutions. The ultimate purpose of the poem, as mentioned above, is to reinstate the Christian ideals of honesty and loyalty. The Christian ideal is symbolized in the pentangle depicted onto Sir Gawains shield, with the face of Mary in its center. Such intense religiosity and deep spirituality can be explained by the religious and political context of Middle Ages and Medieval Europe, which were threatened by the growing Islamic rise in the East and continuous crusades.
Medieval Romance and Courtly Love
Historians can discern another significant insight into Medieval European society from the prevalence of romantic narratives and courtly love throughout the poem. Medieval European times correlated with the birth of courtly love5. The courtly love encapsulated that true love is proven through a test whereby lovers, particularly knights, should resist their sexual instincts and desires. Hence, the pleasure of romance is based not on the sexual aspect but self-control and restraint. This idea can be found in the line where Sir Gawain Gives her a comely kiss, as fit from courteous knight 6.
In other words, Sir Gawain abstains from sexual intercourse with the woman in the castle by limiting their romance to a mere kiss. Thus, such a depiction of the romantic scene in the poem can be explained by the social context of Medieval Europe, whereby society highly elevated the idea of courtly love.
Credibility
The authors credibility is limited based on two primary reasons. Firstly, throughout the poem, the author pays limited attention to the life of ordinary citizens. Instead, it mainly focuses on the lives and experiences of the aristocratic society made up of nobles and knights. Hence, it provides little insight into the life of ordinary people of Medieval Europe. Secondly, the source might be more of an authoritarian nature rather than a descriptive one since the author overly emphasizes chivalry and Christian ideals. Hence, their overemphasis on these aspects might reflect their nostalgia for them, which disappeared in contemporary society.
Bibliography
Hunt, Lynn, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, and Bonnie G. Smith. The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures. 5th ed. Bedford/St. Martins, 2016.
Weston, Jessie L. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Garden City, NY: Dover Publications, 2021.
Footnotes
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Weston, Jessie L. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. (Garden City, NY: Dover Publications, 2021), 14.
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Ibid.
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Weston, Jessie L. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. (Garden City, NY: Dover Publications, 2021), 79.
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Hunt, Lynn, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, and Bonnie G. Smith. The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures. 5th ed. (Bedford/St. Martins, 2016), 367.
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Hunt, Lynn, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein, and Bonnie G. Smith. The Making of the West: Peoples and Cultures. 5th ed. (Bedford/St. Martins, 2016), 365.
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Weston, Jessie L. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. (Garden City, NY: Dover Publications, 2021), 33.
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