Death in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - 1023 Words

During the time of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, to die an honorable death or to die while completing a quest was held with much higher regard than to die a coward. The code of chivalry was an extremely important concept and it was a knight’s duty to live up to this. If a knight was to take up a challenge, he should endure anything to finish it, even if it means death. But just because a knight is bound to comply with the code does not mean there are no feelings of dread. Knights, even the best ones, are afraid of dying but they are also afraid of defying the chivalric code. Which route should they take when faced with a choice between the two decisions? Death may be frightening enough to make knights choose their life over their honor†¦show more content†¦Despite the guide’s convincing statements, Gawain continues on. Here, Gawain values honor more than his life. This is one side of Gawain; the side that believes the importance of duty surpasses that of one ’s life. On the other side is a frightened Gawain that believes the gift of life is greater in value to the honor one may receive. A known example of this is when he accepts the girdle from Lady Bertilak, believing it may offer him protection. Knowing how Gawain thinks, he still would have gone on had he not taken an extra precaution. However, an opportunity to save his life is too good to pass, especially when he is close to death, and he snatches it up. Just as there is usually more than one way to do something, there is also more than one way to approach the decision that Gawain has to make during his trial. As previously mentioned, he has to choose which he values more: his life or his honor. Which one is the real route and which should Gawain have picked? The answer is probably the route that Gawain started on. He found a middle point between life and death. Living up to the requirements despite eventual death is courageous, but it is not wrong for Gawain to want to save himself. But while saving yourself is definitely important, it is selfishShow MoreRelatedSir Gawain And The Green Knight1359 Words   |  6 PagesIn the poem â€Å"Sir Gawain and The Green Knight,† a protagonist emerges depicting an Arthurian knight named Sir Gawain. Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s nephew, takes initiative by accepting the challenge requested by the Green Knight in place of his uncle. He undergoes a perilous adventure, seeking for the Green Knight to receive the final blow. Although Sir Gawain is not viewed as a hero for his military accomplishments, he is, however, viewed as a heroic figure by the Knights at the Round Table for hisRead MoreSir 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 impossi ble becomes entirely possible. 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He proves his honor and courtesy to everyone he meets by showing respect to all whether he receives it back or not. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Sir Gawain shows his bravery the first moment he has the chance to, whenRead MoreTheme Of Archetypes In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight864 Words   |  4 PagesOne story, in particular a poem, arises in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The poem dramatically demonstrates how a single character can set out to fulfill one quest to uncover archetypal elements in tremendous amounts of ways. And it reveals the essence of character development, theme, and conflict transparently through the archetypal quest within three key archetypes—the magic weapon, the boon, and the unhealable wound in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. There’s always some kind of magical element