As discussed in last class regarding "The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle," there are two distinct worlds in the text. The world of the court and that of the wood. In the tale of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," these seperate worlds also exist. The green world, where the mysterious Green Knight resides and the world of Arthur's court.
The tale begins in Arthur's court during Christmas time. "For the feast was in force full fifteen days" (p.16, 44). The court is celebrating, yet it seems to be a little excessive. The world of the court is centered around the "material." The guests are bickering over their gifts. There are "twelve dishes before each pair; Good beer and bright wine both" (p.18, 128-129). This is also the world of court, order, and custom. When the Green Knigth abruptly puts the feasting on hold, Arthur stands up and welcomes him "as behooved" (p.21, 251). Moreover, although he is hesitant Arthur accepts the challenge given to him by the Green Knight. However, Gawain comes to the King's aid, as he knows he should. "I am the weakest, well I know, and of wit feeblest; And the loss of my life would be least of any; That I have you for uncle is my only praise; My body, but for your blood, is barren of worth; And for that this folly befits not a king" (p.23, 354-358). It is also only possible in this world to make and take such an oath as proposed by the Green Knight.
On the other hand, the Green Knight comes from the natural world. This is the green world, outside the city, where there are no strict laws and regulations. It is here, outside the world of chivalry that such adventure can take place. The Green Knight's otherness is apparent as soon as he enters the court. He is a knight "in guise of green, the gear and the man" (p.18, 151). Green can immediately be associated with this natural world.
Green has also been associated with envy in literature. Jealousy for a world outside custom. While Gawain is apprehensive to leave the world he knows, that of Arthur's court, there is a longing to leave this world behind and find adventure.
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3 comments:
I love that these texts are forcing comparisons between the urban and rural environments of the times. Gawain seems to long to bridge this divide, traveling freely between the courtly society and the wilds, and in every tale of his he does do, to varying extents and with varying results. Not to get too far off topic, but the readings remind me that in The Wizard of Oz, the Emerald City was both a place of great order and structure, but also a place of strange folk-tales and mysterious threats. To me, this connected makes Gawain invaluable as a questing hero; rather than rely on old victories like Beowulf, Gawain seems content to wander off in search of anything so long as he lives. Gawain is a knight who loves his job, and his loyalty to Arthur, and his established position in the court, allows for him to do what we all long to do: get paid to do what we love.
I agree with you. Yet I feel like in this text, there is some apprehension on Gawain's part to leave the world of the court. Even when he arrives at the mysterious castle, he tarries until the last minute. Unlike the other text's we've read, Gawain is not so readily wanting adventure. If he was, wouldn't he have stood up sooner and accepted the challenge presented by the Green Knight? Instead, it is not until he realizes that Arthur is in serious danger that he stands up and states that he will accept the challenge.
As far as Sir Gawain's willingness to take the Green Knight's challenge, I read his stepping forward on Arthur's behalf as a sacrifice. Gawain knows he's the weakest knight, proclaims it willingly, and believes that his lost life would spare the king to whom he is so loyal. In so doing, Gawain attempts to guard his liege lord from the natural world and the chaos in it. In that sense, Gawain bridges the urban with the rural simply by delving into it willingly albeit hesitantly. I think the fact that Gawain only accepts the challenge to shield Arthur from any distress makes it clear that he's not altogether sure about facing the natural world and yet he's willing to put aside his fear in favor of his king's safety.
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