Yeah, this post is a little bit [a lot] late. Oh well, I got to it eventually! So I finished Sir Gawain and the Green Knight a few days ago, and I just have to say that I liked it so much better than I liked Beowulf. While Beowulf was cocky, arrogant, and just overall annoying, Sir Gawain was actually pretty humble. Like in the beginning of the story when he offered to take Arthur's place in the game against the Green Knight, because he was the weakest of the knights? Yeah, right. He was definitely not the weakest. I like how he said he was, though.
I also really liked how he did not sleep with his host's wife. Honestly, most men would have slept with her. Heck, even Lancelot slept with Guinevere. It was nice that he was able to refrain from the temptation. Although the biggest reason he didn't sleep with her was probably so he would not have to sleep with the host.... Um, yeah. I really did like the game though. That was when I started to suspect that the host was the Green Knight, when he told Sir Gawain about the game. The way he repeated his instructions was very similar to the night when him and Sir Gawain first met. I knew for a fact that the host was the Green Knight when his wife handed Sir Gawain the green rope thing. I mean, hello? Can you get anymore obvious? That was probably the point....
Sir Gawain IS so much better than Beowulf. I wasn't certain if I could take reading about another arrogant, self absorbed hero. Thankfully, that didn't happen.
ReplyDeleteI actually started to suspect that Gawain's host was the Green Knight when the Green Chapel was mentioned as being near the castle. Then when Gawain received the girdle, I knew that the host was the Green Knight.
The interaction between Gawain and the lady was somewhat weird. I never understood why the lady kept asking him to sleep with her. Why didn't she leave him alone? She had to know he wouldn't do that with her.
I agree. Beowulf was way to arrogant for me, but Gawain is much better. He is humble and modest. I liked how you compared Lancelot and Gawain. Gawain showed restraint and served King Arthur well, even offering to take his place. On the other hand, Lancelot had sex with his wife and betrayed him. I liked how Gawain refrained from the temptation. Even though part of it was probably so he didn't have to sleep with the host, I still think he was trying to protect his honor and the woman's honor. I think it was very obvious when she gave him the green belt because the Green Knight was just that, green! I liked how you compared Beowulf with Gawain and I agree. Gawain is much better than Beowulf!
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