Gawain the Gallant: Embodiment of Chivalry
...grant me the grace … … And if my liege lady misliked it not I would come to your counsel before your court noble. (Boroff Gawain 340-7) He honors the system of chivalry throughout this quote. Gawain honors Guenevere and gains her permission. This is his first example of gallantry towards women. He proves courteous by relieving the king of having to do the deed. He additionally retains honor and is courteous by humbling himself, telling Arthur that the Green Knight is not worth his effort. He does not cower when the Green Knight survives and vows to uphold his end of the pact. It would be a year later that Gawain embarks on his journey to the Green Chapel, but takes a rest stop in the castle of Lord Bertilak. When Gawain arrives at Hautdesert, he gets more temptation than he bargained for in the character of Lady Bertilak. In three consecutive days, she tempts him with herself. She endeavors to challenge his chivalry for three days straight, and engage in an adulterous relationship. “I am yours to command, to kiss when you please; / You may lay on as you like, and leave off at will” (Boroff Gawain 1501-2). Lady Bertilak flat-out offers her body to Gawain, a strong temptation, especially considering Gawain’s liking for the lady. Gawain responds saying that “It is a pleasure surpassing, and a peerless joy, / That one so worthy as you would willingly come / And take the time to trouble to talk with your knight / And content you with his company…” (Boroff Gawain 1536-9). His best strategy is playing the humility card, claiming he is not worth a lady of her status. This proves to be the second and more prominent example of gallantry towards women. Before he embarks on New Year’s Eve to face off with the Green Knight, Gawain makes his crucial mistake. After the epic clash with the Green Knight, Sir Gawain learns of the blunders which he has committed. The first of which is accepting a girdle from Lady Bertilak; she claims it will protect him in battle. “For the man that possesses this piece of silk, / If he bore it on his body, belted about, / There is no hand in heaven that could hew him down, / For he could not be killed by any craft on earth” (Boroff Gawain 1851-4). Through this claim, Lady Bertilak convinces Gawain to accept the girdle. He is not courteous to the Green Knight by accepting an unfair advantage. He accepts the belt as a “jewel for his jeopardy.” Gawain sees the girdle as a way of “evading immanent danger” (Boroff Introduction 5). He is not brave in trying to save his own life, even though it is human nature. Gawai...