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Character Analysis Of Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

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At the conclusion of the narrative, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain’s identity is left undecided. The Green Knight restores Gawain’s knightly virtues of the pentangle and continues to praise Gawain for his virtue. But Gawain, unsatisfied with his restoration, returns home only to find his court full of admiration for his return home and victory, even though he now wears the green lace (4.2489-505). The physical journey of Gawain to the Green Knight demonstrates his outward courage and devotion, but leaves the question: what is truly going on in his heart? Gawain’s moral character is at stake, because he must decide between his valued pentangle or his gifted green lace as his moral identity. During his encounter with the Green Knight, Sir Gawain faces the reality of his nature to find that he is not wholly what his armor displays. Sir Gawain tarnishes his perfection and his virtuous pentangle and instead, he exemplifies his fallibility by the wearing the lace. Perfection is Sir Gawain’s external character from the beginning of the narrative to when he first removes his armor. Gawain’s armor carries all the expectations of the chivalric values: courage, courtesy, fidelity, and the pentangle. The pentangle represents the five senses, fingers, joys, virtues, and wounds (2.640-47). His armor is described as “For ever faithful five-fold in five-fold fashion / [with] … good works … [and] with virtues adorned” (2.632-34). Everything about Gawain echoes perfection and complete devotion to his duty as a knight. This portrayal is completely external as readers do not get a thorough glimpse into his heart until the description of his shield. Sir Gawain depends on Mary for strength, “On the inner part of his shield her image portrayed, / That when his look on it lighted, he never lost heart” (2.6649-50). It is fitting that the image rests on the inside of his shield rather than the outside, because it hides from the rest of the world and the outward view of his armor. Gawain needs outside help to complete his perfection and encourage him during the toughest of trials. The courage and loyalty granted from his armor allows Gawain to travel through the dark and cold forest and reach an unknown castle. Here,

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