Why You Should Read 'Sir Gawain And The Green Knight'
Chivalry extends beyond those sacrificial deeds done in the light. Rather, true chivalry first requires a pure heart.
It is Christmas at Camelot, and Arthur is celebrating the yuletide feast with his famed Knights of the Round Table. But their festivities are rudely interrupted by a mighty axe-wielding stranger, all clad in an eerie glowing green. Wielding an axe, this mysterious Green Knight issues a peculiar challenge to the court: one of them may strike a blow at him, if only they would allow him to repay the blow in a year and a day.
With their order’s reputation of chivalry being called into question, it is King Arthur’s nephew who rises to the challenge — Sir Gawain seizes the broad axe, hoping that he will strike such a blow as cannot be recovered from. And as odd as it would seem, that mysterious Green Knight unflinchingly offers Gawain his own neck for a sure target.
True to his office Gawain strikes sure, severing the Green Knight’s head from his shoulders in one fell swoop.
But, the Green Knight is by this ordeal wholly unfazed. Mystically, he walks over to retrieve his severed head which had rolled to the feet of Arthur. Picking it up, the dismembered knight casually reminds Sir Gawain of his promise, to allow him to return the blow in a year and one day. Upon Gawain’s honour, the Green Knight says that he will be waiting for him at a certain Green Chapel, in a mere 366 days.
Thus it becomes Sir Gawain’s quest to seek the Green Knight out.
Finding his strength in Christ and reminding himself of the five knightly virtues which he swore to uphold (as symbolized by the pentangle which he bore upon his shield) Gawain would stand tall, like gold well refined. He was committed to a life of free-giving and friendliness, chastity and chivalry, and piety surpassing all points. In this, Gawain was resolved to make the journey, even if it would cost him his life.
Many a cliff he climbed o’er in countries unknown,
far fled from his friends without fellowship he rode . . .
At whiles with worms he wars, and with wolves also,
at whiles with wood-trolls that wandered in the crags,
and with bulls and with bears and boars, too, at times;
and with ogres that hounded him from the heights of the fells.
But upon his noble quest to find the mysterious Green Chapel, where near-certain death awaited him, Sir Gawain would be tempted to wane from his order’s lofty standards. Indeed, his purity would be challenged to the core. Could the hero of Arthur’s most-Christian order succeed where even the patriarchs had failed?
Unbeknownst to Sir Gawain, this was the true gauntlet that the Green Knight had thrown down to Arthur’s knights!
By the wiles of women to woe be brought
For even so Adam by one on earth was beguiled,
and Solomon by several, and to Samson moreover
his doom by Delilah was dealt; and David was after
blinded by Bathsheba, and he bitterly suffered.
Now if these came to grief through their guile, a gain ‘twould be vast
to love them well and believe them not, if it lay in man’s power!
Sir Gawain And The Green Knight is a wonderful read, chock full of beautiful word-play, as translated by the legendary J.R.R. Tolkien. Through epic poem, this medieval tale teaches the reader that chivalry is more then outspoken heroic deeds done in the light. Rather, true chivalry first requires a pure heart: it is the virtuous deed done while nobody is watching which is most celebrated in this story.
As the good Lord put it,
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.” Luke 16:10.
