Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - Essay Example

Thesis ment Sir Gawain and the Green Knight attempts to explore the conflict between the real and the ideal and portrays the journey of the soul from ignorance to truth. Introduction The story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight centres on the theme of conflict between the ideal and the real. Set in the medieval times the poem on one hand glorifies the knightly virtues of King Arthur and on the other reveals the human side of his knights through the journey of Sir Gawain. If Sir Gawain represents the dilemma of every man, the Green Knight stands for the challenge that he must meet to discover and realize his true self.

Without being judgemental or didactic for even once the poet seems much ahead of his age in his sensibilities and poetic approach. The ideal knight King Arthur has always stood as the epitome of knightly virtues which have become the benchmark of ideal manhood down the ages. Each one of his seven knights represents the seven virtues upheld in Christianity. A true knight must have the virtues ingrained in him. He must be inherently courageous, just, honest, chaste, courteous, chivalrous and restrained.

The Arthurian legends are full of knightly adventures celebrating the Christian virtues of the ideal knight and the Good Samaritan. Sir Gawain: more real than ideal The story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight too starts on the same notes with Sir Gawain accepting the challenge thrown by the Green Knight on behalf of King Arthur thus saving all from the disgrace of being called cowards. The deadly game reminds of the game of chess played between Antonius Block, the knight and Death over the former’s life (The Seventh Seal, 1957).

In his journey throughout, in quest of the Green Knight; Sir Gawain has abided by the dictums of the virtues except for once. Though he fights against rough weather and deadly monsters showing courage and deftly but courteously eludes the passes of the beautiful wife of his host, yet for once could not overcome his fear of death and accepted the green girdle from the lady of the house. Apparently, it is the only time he faltered in his role of the knight. It is this role playing that becomes obvious from the very beginning with the poet trying to expose the dichotomy of what one is and what one is expected to be.

The poet has veritably tapped the flesh and blood man in the armoured knights. The intentions of the poet become clear in depicting the lack of spontaneity in Sir Gawain as he faces the Green Knight. It seems as though he is merely performing his role and not living it up as is expected of a knight. Unlike an ideal knight he begins by accepting his limitations “I am weakest and feeblest in wit, I know well, And my life, to say truth, would be least loss of any…” (192) Considering the severity of the knightly virtues Gawain cannot be whole heartedly called a worthy knight.

He is a knight in position but not in character. He loses his purpose, cowers in fear of impending danger, shows weakness in accepting the talismanic green girdle to ward off danger and finally breaks his vow by hiding the truth from his host. But as an individual human being trying to live up the ideal, he claims admiration. By making him partially successful in retaining his integrity the poet makes him all the more human. He has his share of follies and wisdom. Sir Gawain is real in the sense that readers can relate to him and identify with his fears, joys and pangs of guilt.

Sir Gawain’s transcendence It is the reality of human nature that looms over all other myths of the ideal world. Sir Gawain who is supposed to be the ideal knight turns out to be no more than a human being in plight, scared and a little dishonest in a harmless way. He does them all to save his own life. But the poet has a bigger purpose and that is to impart self awareness among people who love to wallow in self glory. It is here that Sir Gawain leaves the mark of a true and noble soul.

He admits his sin and goes through self condemnation. It shows that he has realized his mistakes and is sorry from within. “Here I confess my sin; All faulty did I fare. Your good will let me win, And then I will beware.” (235) Sin and Redemption The symbolism of the Green Knight keeps on changing throughout the entire poem but if the journey of Sir Gawain is metaphorical then the Green Knight functions more as the awakening of the conscience. The Green Knight’s exoneration of Sir Gawain and the latter’s repentance are connected.

It emphasizes true Christian faith that speaks of absolving one of one’s sins if one confesses and repents. This explains the Green Knight’s reaction at Sir Gawain’s self-chastisement and also explains each one of their judgement apt from the Christian principles. At this point Bergman’s story of knight Antonius Block is different from Sir Gawain’s. Bergman’s story has a deeper religious connotation and harps at the erosion of faith and against it the unperturbed persona of the knight (The Seventh Seal, 1957) whereas Sir Gawain’s story is about re-affirming the fundamental concept of Christian faith and the enlightenment of the lost knight.

Conclusion In conclusion it could be said that though the poem appears to be secular in its theme yet there is a strong underlying religious flavour. Moreover it touches upon the universal concept of soul searching and attaining enlightenment. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight transcends the barriers of time and space to tell the story of self discovery and the quest for redemption. Works Cited Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. M.H.

Abrams, E. Talbot Donaldson, Hallett Smith, Robert M. Adams, Samuel Holt Monk, George H. Ford and David Daiches. New York, NY: Norton, 1962. 185-238 The Seventh Seal. Dir. Ingar Bergman. Prod. Allen Ekelund. 1957