Beowulf, Roland, Sir Gawain, Arthur, Term Paper

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This acceptance reveals the flaw in his moral structure as it is evidence that he has a certain amount of fear of death, which means that his faith is not entirely impervious to doubt and that he is not morally perfect

The subsequent encounter between Gawain and the Green Knight reveals much of the strength of Gawain's moral attributes. He is brave in the face of the Knight. The Green Knight however does not kill Gawain due to his strong moral stature in refusing to succumb to the seductive advancer of Bertilak's wife. However, the Green Knight does nick Gawain's neck and draws blood. This is a sign that Gawain is being punished for his moral failure in accepting the green girdle. It is also clear at this point that the seduction of lady Bertialk was a central moral test that would determine Gawain's fate. The Green Knight is in fact Berilak's alter ego and lady Bertilak is revealed as Morgan le Faye, Gawain's aunt and King Arthur's half sister.

On one level the poem is about the conflict between Gawain and the Green Knight. On another and more important level the narrative poem is an allegory which deals with the conflict between raw nature and the need for civilized moral structure and higher virtues. This can be seen in the fact that Bertilak is associated with nature and hunting, while Gawain is a figure associated with elevated values and civilized standards. "Bertilak engages in an expenditure of physical energy, while Gawain, immobilized, suffers a trial both of moral constancy and mannered courtesy. Bertilak's arena is nature, Gawain's society," (Conrad 22). The are many other associations that link Berilak and the Green Knight to nature; such as the color green, which is also indicative of regeneration and the moral growth of Gawain.

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Central to this poem is the moral test that faces Gawain in the attempted seduction by Lady Bertilak. This is an invitation to adultery which would not only go against the chivalric values pertaining to the honor that is expected to be given to one's host, but is also a grievous Christian sin. One could refer to many Biblivao references and connotations to this type of test; for example Joseph and Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39:7-19).

Gawain however does not deviate from the Biblical injunction, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," (Exodus 20:14, Deuteronomy 5:18)

The temptation of Bertilak's wife is also one which invokes the conflict between natural instincts and nature and higher morals and ideals. Gawain does fail morally to a certain extent in that he accepts the green girdle and therefore shows that he fears death. In a Christian sense this tale can therefore be seen to refer to the fall of Man and the temptation of Adam by eve and his fall from the Garden of Eden. As a result of this failure Gawain states on his return to Camelot that he will wear the girdle for the rest of his life.

The poem shows us the importance of higher moral values and also the difficulty of maintaining perfect virtue in a fallen world. The poem does not let us forget that, in terms of the Christian ethos, we are all fallen men and women who have to continually exercise virtue and high moral values.

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