Gawain binary Opposition

A detailed Summary of Gawain binary Opposition

As a contemporary American reader, it is all right to assume that the first scene in which the particular character is involved drastically shapes our opinion of characters in a particular novel or poem. Immediately we jump to conclusions about what is right and what is wrong, who is the good guy and who is the bad guy. In fact, once we get an initial impression from a character, it is unlikely that this opinion will change as we continue to read on, unless of course some drastic events take place. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an excellent example of a poem where first impressions may not be the most important to the reader. As the opening scene unfolds, we are introduced to a Green Knight who seems extremely high on himself and Gawain who seems full of confidence and is ready to take on any challenge. However, the events that take place later in the poem will most definitely have an impact on the way we view each character individually. We are automatically forced to take sides, one of the characters is bad and one of them is good. It is absurd for someone to think that this not be the case when two people confront each other in such a dramatic opening scene. By looking at the in

Gawain also exhibits some characteristics that can be compared to Beowulf. They both lived up to the idea of the Pagan hero and could not control there greed and lust. Beowulf wanted the dragon's gold, while Gawain wanted the Green Knight's wife. It is simply impossible for these two characters to be satisfied with what they have. Gawain, you would think, would be satisfied with becoming a knight and receiving the approval of King Arthur. Instead he goes out and strives for things he can not have, like the lady. It seems as though Gawain was trying to reach something that was unattainable to anybody and his motives for this are suspect. In this aspect, the author seems to be saying that knights are not God-like figures and they have a lot of work to do as a person. It is unfair for someone to call themselves God-like just by going through the process of becoming a knight. The quest through knighthood does not automatically make you invincible to the temptations and distractions that come with everyday life. It is unfair for these people to compare themselves to God.

There are two main points which the author wanted the reader to take away from this poem. The first is that nobody on earth has the right to act God-like except God himself. This goal is simply unattainable, even when one becomes a knight, which happens to be the most noble position in England at the time. The second message from the author is that once you become something (a knight), you must strive to keep becoming better as a person and do not think you are immune to the dangers that exist in the outside world. If you fail to do this, your perception may change to the exact opposite of what you want. This is the case with Gawain. He does not think he needs to further develop as a human once becoming a knight. The author assures us that development is a continuous process that must be built upon with each subsequent experience.

Gawain know is fully engulfed in his transition from good to evil, from truthful to deceptive. He has carried on an affair with a woman he knew was married and on top of that took a girdle which was supposed to protect him from all harm. One quality of a knight was to be brave, stand up to challenges especially when they seem to be overwhelming. Instead of doing this, Gawain thinks he can rely on some green girdle and all his problems will go away. As the exchange between Gawain and the lady is going on, the men are out hunting for the feast that night. This time they catch a fox, but the way they catch it is important because it mirrors the hoax Gawain was trying to put on with the Green Knight's wife. The fox tries to backtrack so that the dogs will not pick up his scent, but instead he backtracks so well that he actually runs into the dogs and is killed. This is synonymous with the plan Gawain was trying to use, pushing the contact with the lady to the very edge. He wanted to do as much as he could without being caught in an affair. Ultimately, his slyness was detected by Gawain and this is what led to his downfall, just like the fox. They almost outsmarted themselves.

Gawain was greeted at the Green Knight's castle (he was not immediately sure he was at the right place) by a festive atmosphere where a feast has been going on for some time. He is immediately attracted to a woman he sees and thinks about the idea of possibly pursuing her in a sexual manner. Unknown to Gawain at the time, he was actually attracted to the Green Knight's wife, but of course he was oblivious to him since he did not even know if he was in the right castle or not. It is Christmas time and the people of the castle treat Gawain like a king, giving him a nice place to rest and all the food he can eat (it was customary for knights to be shown this sort of hospitality). "When Gawain had gazed on that gay lady, with leave of her lord he politely approached" (222). The attraction to the lady was just all part of the Gre

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2832
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English