Sir Gawaine Character Analysis - 765 Words

The Oxford Dictionary defines honor as great respect and admiration for. Throughout his life and during his many adventures, Sir Gawaine found a way to act honorably regardless of the circumstances. Undoubtedly, Knights of King Arthur’s Court possessed honor, and this distinction held true for Sir Gawaine. However, Sir Gawaine’s honorable character directly determined his future bride. Immortal Ladies of the Lake lived in a silvery, wonderful place. Yet, Sir Gawaine’s honorable character inspired one of these ladies to leave her enchanted life for him. Sir Gawaine’s unfailing honor resulted in matrimony between him and a now mortal fay. During an adventure with his close friend Sir Pellias, Sir Gawaine acted honorably on multiple†¦show more content†¦At the end of the year, he promised an old and horrid looking beldame one of his knight’s hands in marriage in exchange for the answer to the riddle. Demonstrating his unwavering loyalty to King Arthur, Sir Gawaine married the beldame when she chose him. After marrying her the beldame tested his courtesy once more by telling him she would become beautiful for half of each day. Ignoring his own will, Sir Gawaine chose the half she wanted demonstrating his selflessness and respect. â€Å"So be it. For since I have taken thee for my wife, so must I show thee respect in all matter† (Pyle 310). After this, she revealed herself as a fay who witnessed his good-byes with Sir Pellias and abandoned her immortality to test his honor and marry him. When tested, Sir Gawaine passed and confirmed his honorable character. Despite his best efforts, Sir Gawaine still sullied his honor several times due to no fault of his own. Usually these instances involved variables Sir Gawaine had no control over. For instance, after killing a white hart, he battled the knight of the castle. However, while swinging his sword for a mighty final blow, the knight’s wife unexpectedly intervened. Honorably, Sir Gawaine softened his blow as much as possible to avoid killing her. â€Å"nevertheless, he was able to turn his sword in his hand so that the edge thereof did not smite the lady† (Pyle 288). Next,Show MoreRelatedEssay on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight1617 Words   |  7 PagesSir Gawaine and the Green Knight, a poem of pitting chivalrous courage against a game of deceitful trickery, relies heavily on the symbolic messages its protagonists send through their apparel. The anonymous poet dedicates numerous lines to describing the artifacts of armor, clothing, and jewelry both characters display. Dress, designed to convey a multitude of concepts is crucial to the storys plot; the elements of garb also work in tandem to reaffirm specific personality traits. The dominant role