The Mystery Men: the Green Knight and Sir Gawain
The Green Knight, who introduces himself as Bertilak de Hautdesert, a noble and a respected warrior, according to Gawain. He is scripted as the poems first antagonist, and a scintillating character. He is the mystery man of this Arthurian Camelot, the creativity of the author is just fascinating. Green Knight, is the most deeply misconceived character in This Camelot, He is described with utmost detail but readers fail to read him, creating a giant dilemma in their minds. He has a unique figure, tall, muscular, ferocious and green in complexion. The other knights tend to look up to him as a unearthly being rather than a Knight, the bearded knights fail to prove their masculinity over him, which is even impossible to think.
Morgan le Fey, a sorcerer depicted in the poem, who was a student of Merlin, temporarily gives the green Knight power , that protects him from beheading, which was during a game started by himself, a challenge in other words. From these lines the authors reminds us how much immortality has been given to him. He doesn’t clearly explains, who he really is at the beginning of the poem, later on he surprises everyone. He is quite commanding and egoistic, that is obvious when one has power superior than the others
The Green Knight or Bertilak has a very satirical way of explaining things, his sense of humor leaves the readers impressed. It even makes them think of the proverb ‘Never judge a book by it’s cover’. Friendly and deadly is two of the words that is used to describe him, so ironical. He calls up Gawain for a game, not as fun as it sounds but surely violent. Unfortunately, Gawain passes most of the games initiated by Green Knight, he breaks the barriers of expectations Green Knight had that, held up with his side of the contract.
At the final stages of the plot, Green Knight shocks Gawain with his true identity, that he is Bertilak de Hautdesert, who is immensely respected by the court and Sir Gawain. Gawain accentuate the Green Knight That, is Bertilak by telling the readers that he is a compassionate, bold ,strong leader and a fighter.
Bertilak, that is the Green Knight in his human form is a handsome, fierce and a fier hero, he relies great importance on verbal pacts, he asks Gawain to play a game that solely focuses on his honesty. Gawain does not even have a single hint of what the game is about, he gravitates no importance to it. Bertilak, even though he sounds malicious, is a great host and a generous person by heart. He gives Gawain, literally everything cloths, food and even his wife for a day
“Said the good host, agree now to this: whatever I win in the woods I will give you at eve, and all you have earned you must offer to me; swear now, sweet friend, to swap as I say, whether hands, in the end, be empty or better”. ”While Bertilak’s wide is in company of Gawain, he sets out to the woods to hunt, but in reality, it is centrally for the challenge Green Knight promised Gawain, lady Bertilak efforts becomes hard for Gawain to resist, in the end Gawain fortunately wins the rest of honesty as he reveals the truth towards Green Knight.
Green Knight is pictured as a cruel and a weird character for creating an unfair challenge for Gawain, that is a supernatural being to human. Green Knight is not flawless, his ideas represent stern reality and has a reason, he never fails to do what he says, he is a man of his words. He knows how much he can do with his power, and proves the readers he is unstoppable when he takes his head in his grasp when he gets beheaded and rides out of the court with his horse. In reality, he epitomizes the natural order of the world, he is killed and comes back as a part of a course. No one wants to meet up with him because of his queer physical stature, even the Knights are terrified of him.
After the game, Green Knight criticizes Gawain for taking the girdle from lady Bertilak, who seduced him, but failed in bringing down his guard. Then Gawain admits defeat through shame and agony, but the Green Knight learns his point of view that he kept the girdle to save his own life and not a symbolic representation of love. Ironically, Green Knight forgives Gawain for giving an unfair challenge and that he proved him wrong.
An yet, at the closing moments of the poem Bertilak de Hautdesert and the Green Knight gets overlapped, both Green Knight and Bertilak resembles easily. Both has importance for verbal contracts, are good hosts and never fail to do something they promise. Despite of being an invincible and supernatural being , the Green Knight has to bow down to Sir Gawain’s honestly it shows how it is not always about physical strength and power but it’s the mindset that makes all the difference. In this Legend, it was the Gawain that showed us why anyone can bring down a monster.
Works Cited
- Sir Gawain and the Green Knight ;edited and translated by James Winny, Broadview press ,2017
