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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

by Pearl-Poet

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Discussion Topic

Reasons behind King Arthur allowing Sir Gawain to accept the Green Knight's challenge and Sir Gawain's feelings of qualification

Summary:

King Arthur allows Sir Gawain to accept the Green Knight's challenge because Gawain volunteers, demonstrating his bravery and loyalty. Gawain feels qualified and honored to take the challenge, believing it is his duty to protect his king and uphold the chivalric code.

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Why does Sir Gawain feel qualified to accept the Green Knight's challenge?

When the Green Knight issues his challenge, everybody in King Arthur's court at Camelot hangs back. The Green Knight begins to mock the court, causing Arthur himself to step forward, ax in hand.

At this point, Sir Gawain intervenes, offering himself instead. While we might expect him to base his claim on his great strength or courage, he instead argues it on the basis of his unworthiness, saying his life is the least valuable of any. He states he is the "weakest" and has the "feeblest" wit. He also notes that his honor comes not from his own accomplishments but from his status as the king's nephew. He also says that he should be allowed to stand in for Arthur because he was the first to ask. Gawain says, too, that this "folly" should not fall on the king:

I am the weakest, I am aware, and in wit feeblest,
and the least lost, if I live not, if one would learn the truth.
Only because you are my uncle is honor given me:
save your blood in my body I boast of no virtue;
and since this affair is foolish that it nowise befits you,
and I have requested it first, accord it then to me!

As events will show, this is false humility on Sir Gawain's part. He actually believes he is a chivalrous and worthy knight. Later, when his life is on the line and he is tested, he behaves dishonorably, withholding the truth of the green girdle from his host. It is only after his adventures with the Green Knight that his limitations as a person become real to Gawain, who returns to Camelot chastened and wiser.

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The Medieval tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight shows the importance of chivalry and honor.

The Green Knight, a pawn of Morgan Le Fay, challenges the Green Knight so as to play out the game which Le Fay has created so as to scare Guinevere.

Sir Gawain is a member of Arthur's Court. As a member of his court, he is required to uphold the code of the knight. When the Green Knight comes to Arthur's, during the Christmas season, he offers a challenge. Arthur, not willing to eat until entertained, allows the Green Knight to put forth his challenge. None of the knights step forward at first. Arthur, somewhat ashamed of his knights, initially accepts the Green Knight's challenge.

Gawain, knowing the he may fail and seeing himself as the weakest on one who will be least missed, decides to take Arthur's place. It is out of courtly love and chivalric duty by which he does this.

Le Fay's challenge, again as enacted by the Green Knight, is a simple ruse because of her hatred and jealousy against Queen Guinevere. Her whole plan is to frighten Guinevere so as to gain an upper hand over the Queen.

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Why does King Arthur allow Sir Gawain to accept the challenge?

The main reason is that King Arthur doesn't want to look weak in front of his guests. He's not just the king; he's also a brave warrior, the protector of his people. So when the Green Knight throws down a challenge he has no choice but to accept.

Though Arthur is initially hesitant—he doesn't quite know what he's letting himself in for—he knows that it's his duty to respond to any challenge made to him. And the Green Knight's challenge isn't just a challenge to Arthur as a man; it's a challenge to him as king. If Arthur lets this challenge slide, therefore, he's allowing the Green Knight to undermine the stability of his throne. In turn, that will send out the very dangerous message that any other warrior who fancies his chances can simply rock up at Camelot any time he chooses and make the king look small in front of his knights and courtiers.

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