Off with their heads?

In the context of the monstrous and the other, Gawain's stories are interesting because there is a distinction that Gawain is the other and his counterpart in each story is monstrous. Gawain is othered because of his infallible courtesy unlike the other men in the stories particularly Sir Kay, who is obnoxious in both the Turke and the Carle.

The Turke is portrayed as more magical than monstrous in his story, but he is also pagan and by that label, in addition to his monstrous feats when helping Gawain in the castle of the Isle of Man, he becomes monstrous. What is interesting is that he is not evil even though he is portrayed at first by the author. Instead he is simply looking for a worthy and adventurous man to help him in his quest.

The Carle is more obviously monstrous. He is described as a giant who keeps wild animals for pets that cringe on his word. His reputation also begs that everyone fear him as they may otherwise be killed. He tests Gawain in a similar fashion as the Turke does, and based on his success rewards him.

These two "monsters" play almost identical roles within their stories. The good, gentle Christian nobility hiding within these "monsters" is only released by the appearance of Gawain who serves as a catalyst in a sense for their rebirth. Only by finding a man chivalrous enough are they able to lift the veil of monstrosity that surrounds them, and seems it must be done in the rather violent manner of beheading symbolizing almost a tearing away of past pagan sins and lifestyle. For the Turke it releases Sir Gomer and all other chivalrous people trapped in the Castle. The Turke's blood seems to the focus of the rebirth which follows with the idea of sacrifice within Christian religion. In our version of the Carle of Carlisle, the carle simply confess and requests forgiveness, but there seems to be another version in which he is beheaded. It is curious that there are these two versions and it seems that without the beheading there is almost an amount of doubt about the carle's true redemption.

If he had been truly sorrowful and desired to change he would have asked to be beheaded. It is a symbol that leads to disenchantment of the pagan curse. Without it there is no clean cut from past religions' sins. This idea of paganism as a curse that must be lifted is interesting because it almost implies that everyone is Christian on the inside and to let it out one must desire it and ask for their blood to flow!