Essay on Chivalric Romance in Sir Gawin and the Green Knight

What does a Chivalric Romance really represent? In â€Å"Sir Gawain and The Green Knight,† Sir Gawain continuously proves his knightly virtues and code of honor. Chivalry includes bravery, honor and humanity. He proves that he is in fact a â€Å"real† knight. It shows many ways that â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† are perfect and the emphasis on the importance of the chivalric code. Despite its divine origins, the chivalric code is ultimately a human ideal. Chivalry is not a trait naturally found in man, but rather a concept constructed by humanity in its pursuit for Christ-like perfection. It has even been suggested that chivalry is at odds with the nature of man. Despite the weakness of his human nature, however, Sir Gawain is expected to†¦show more content†¦However, here the insignificance of the code is once again hinted at, for this challenge reveals a contradiction: it is rude of Sir Gawain to decline a ladys wish, yet it is not proper for him to yield to her desires. Although Sir Gawain does grant her request for a kiss, he still manages to uphold his agreement with his host. As promised, he gives his host the days profits: as the Green Knight later recalls, You kissed my comely wife - each kiss you restored (Part 4). In this manner, Sir Gawain manages to uphold the code despite the complications presented by this particular situation. Despite Sir Gawains reputation as a noble and chivalrous knight of King Arthurs Round Table and his ability to uphold the code under challenging circumstances, Sir Gawain is only human. It must be noted, however, that although there are many indications that what is said and done out of expectations is not always what is actually thought. It is suggested that Sir Gawain honestly believes in the courageous words he speaks as he accepts the challenge: he is later described as to his word most true/ And in speech most courteous knight (Part 2). In fact, Sir Gawain is more or less seen as the ideal knight, Devoid of all villainy, with virtures adorned/ in sight (Part 2). This quality is perhaps what makes him ideal for the tests at hand, because it reveals that human weakness can be found within even the most seemingly perfect men. More importantly, however, this