The Role Of Chivalry In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

Dejan Stojanovic once said, “Knighthood lies above eternity; it doesn’t live off fame, but rather deeds.” A lot of people in our modern time say that chivalry is dead, but, what is chivalry? Chivalry is defined as the medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code which consists of courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help the weak. Sir Gawain is a chivalrous knight because he embodies the ideas of bravery, honor, and loyalty which is showcased in Arthurian literatures such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Le Morte D’arthur. Sir Gawain presents himself with bravery when he takes King Arthur’s place in the challenge against the Green Knight. “I beseech you my king, let this game be mine.” (lines 119-120) He says. By presenting himself in such manner he allowed himself to be recognized as brave for upholding such a challenge from a stranger in
On the first 2 nights, Sir Gawain upheld the agreement that he and the lord had. After so much time spent proving himself to the lady of the castle, Sir Gawain says, “I know your worth, your price…to be your humble knight.” He makes it clear that he recognizes the Lady’s social stature before she convinces him to take it according to the plans of the Green Knight. In order to honor the Lady’s words, Sir Gawain humbly accepts her gift and uses it to save his life from the axe. On the day that Sir Gawain went to go see the Green Knight, the Knight said, “You’re the finest man that ever walked this earth...so Gawain indeed stood out above all knights.”(lines 341-343) He reveals himself as the lord only to applaud Sir Gawain for staying honorable for the first two nights at the castle. As the Green Knight explains himself to Sir Gawain about what he had planned, it served to prove that Sir Gawain was honorable in his actions and was ultimately the reason behind Sir Gawain’s level of