Sir Gawain Chivalry Essay

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The chivalrous social code that dictated the behaviors of knights and gentlemen alike in medieval Europe is crucial to have knowledge and awareness of when interpreting medieval European texts. The poem “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” is fundamentally optimistic about Gawain’s performance of chivalry, as the text (and characters within the text) praises his bravery and honesty while simultaneously criticizing the lack of knightly attributes possessed by King Arthur and his Court. Gawain’s overreaction to his experiences and the round table’s subsequent dismissal of his self-indictment is a clear contrast that exemplifies Gawain’s knightly chivalry that the rest of the round table lacks, effectively displaying that the greatest values for …show more content…
Now the revelry and repute of the Round Table are overthrown with a word from one man’s mouth, / For you all cower in fear before a blow has been struck!’” (lines 312-315). Others expect the members of the Court to strictly follow the chivalric code, and are disappointed when they do not. However, it must be noted that Gawain is depicted in a positive light by the end of his journey, despite displaying the same cowardice as the rest of the Court, but the Court never actively seeks to repent for their actions and therefore are never granted forgiveness. By not granting Arthur and his Court the same explicit narrative forgiveness as Gawain, it’s revealed that remorse for one’s wrongdoings is valued to a greater extent than perfectly following the chivalric code. In regards to Gawain’s final experience of humiliation and insistence on always carrying the green garter as a physical reminder of his shame, it is framed as an overreaction by other characters, but his strict adherence to the chivalric code validates his response. In front of Arthur and his Court, Gawain confesses to being dishonest with the Lord, and insists he “must wear [the garter] as long as [he]
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