what role does the feminine play in gawain's identity? course hero

In the Old English texts, The Wife’s Lament and Beowulf, the roles of women are seen as peace weavers, motivators, cupbearers and memory keepers, compared to the women in the Middle English text, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, who now play the roles of being protective, seductive and manipulative.

Full Answer

What is the role of women in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?

In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, women play a central role because they are influential, and in most cases, operate behind the scenes to contrive the scheme and intrigues of the story and the hero’s pursuit. This paper will focus on the part played by the women in the middle ages.

Why does Gawain laments the Mighty biblical characters felled by women?

In the passage used for this paper, Gawain laments the mighty Biblical characters felled by women in justifying his own susceptibility to the wishes of Lady Bercilak.

What is the role of women in Arthurian literature?

In Arthurian literature, women certainly played important roles. They repeatedly and constantly prejudiced the protagonists of such stories in countless ways and also held a strong sway over the occurrences in the story and, accordingly, over the story line as well.

What is the plot of Sir Gawain and Lady Bercilak?

However, the plot of this poem indicates that women had the ability to attain their needs and exert their influence as they desired. In the passage used for this paper, Gawain laments the mighty Biblical characters felled by women in justifying his own susceptibility to the wishes of Lady Bercilak.

Who outsmarted Sir Gawain?

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: Poem Analysis. In this passage, Gawain admits that he was outsmarted by Morgan le Fay and Lady Bercilak, “Both [Lady Bercilak] and that other, my honored ladies/that have trapped their true knight in their trammels so quaint” (2412-2413).

What is the significance of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?

In the thirteenth century when Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was written, as well as in the Arthurian era in which it took place, Christian traditions created a male-dominated society in which women had very little perceived power.

Why did Bercilak come to Arthur's court in disguise?

Lord Bercilak tells Gawain that the reason he came to Arthur’s court in disguise was on her command, “She puts the shape on me to puzzle your wits/ to afflict your fair queen and frighten her to death” (2459-2460).

What is the chivalric code of knights?

Much of the chivalric code that knights prided themselves on was based on the assumption that women could not achieve much for themselves, and therefore men had to achieve it for them. However, the plot of this poem indicates that women had the ability to attain their needs and exert their influence as they desired.

Who was Gawain outwitted by?

In his speech, Gawain acknowledges that he was outwitted by Lady Bercilak but given all of the great men who have also been bested by women he, “thinks [he] may be excused” (2428). One can see the cunning of Lady Bercilak as she systematically explores and capitalizes on Gawain’s weakness- his fear of dying.

Who was the main player in the conflict between Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?

One of the key players in this larger conflict is Lady Bercilak.

What is Morgan Le Fay's character called?

Through the characters of Morgan le Fay and the Lady Bercilak (referred to as “The crone and the coquette”) one can witness the true power of women to achieve their ends through the manipulation of men even in the patriarchal society of Camelot (“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” 1317).

What is the gender in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?

Gender in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is caged within a static binary composed of the masculine and the feminine ; relative opposites within which individuals are expected to conform to a certain quota of behaviors – for to fit into neither category would seemingly render a character useless to the plot: a celebration of masculine virtue.

What is the significance of the exchange between Gawain and Bertilak?

The exchange between Gawain and Bertilak as the Green Knight acts as the plots central aspect , and the entirety of the narrative is almost purely dedicated to the challenge of blows between them, giving further centrality to masculinity and the behaviors expected of masculine characters for them to have significance.

What is the agreement between Lady Bertilak and Gawain?

The agreement between Lady Bertilak and Gawain to keep the girdle a secret makes Gawain go against all of the masculine virtues that he believes in , and aims to achieve as if the feminine romantic aspect of knighthood and masculinity are more important than the heroic ‘code’ which the knight is expected to follow.

What is the character of the Green Knight?

Bertilak ’s character, both as himself and as the Green Knight, is recognizably ‘ sturne ’, which conveys a similar masculine strength and power possessed by Gawain both during the challenge of blows and in his return to Arthur’s court. Bertilak ’s ‘ huntes ’, like Gawain’s quest, is representative of his masculine characteristics – portraying ...

What is Morgan Le Faye's role in the novel?

Morgan le Faye’s character is able to use her understanding of femininity and the feminine role not only within society but also within narrative to undermine masculinity through the manipulation of chivalric encounters between characters.

What is female centrality?

Female centrality appears as relatively unusual within a narrative that is distinctly masculine in purpose – a purpose to follow and make sense of the trials of knighthood, a trade dominated by masculinity.

Is masculinity feeble?

Interestingly, this makes masculinity appear relatively feeble. The mental strength of masculine characters is not explored, as previously seen, the focus is on their chivalric virtue rather than their intelligence as such, both sexually and not.

Introduction

Brief Background of Sir Gawain and The Green Knight

Women’s Roles in Sir Gawain and The Green Knight

• There is certainly a rich range of feminine models in Sir Gawain and the Green Knighteven though none of them is as fully developed as Sir Gawain or the Green Knight. All of them, without exceptions, are very powerful figures though the Virgin Mary, to whom Gawain is dedicated is quite different. All of them are also ambivalent and contain both goo...

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Conclusion

Works Cited