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Sir Gawain’S Test Of Virtue

Philosophers and theologists have contemplated morality and its role in the lives of men for centuries. It is hard to define what constitutes a moral life and an amoral life when the very definition of those words are subjective; being moral is often compared to being virtuous or simply “good”. Often what is called moral is what mimics societal standards. This is an issue that has been tackled in a plethora of ways, from the establishment of religion all the way to the bed-time stories repeated to us as children. Defining morality is difficult to do because of the vast range of human action and thought, which also makes it very difficult to decide if people can truly change or develop a new moral code. Stories and tales are often used to describe the trials humanity undergoes in an effort to explain morality, and whether the human condition does let men learn and grow from their experiences. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain’s knightly virtue and fidelity are tested throughout the course of his journey, and it is questionable if he learned anything from his experiences. His failure at the end of the poem sparks the more general question of whether it is possible for a man to live a perfectly chivalrous life, which is something humanity has strove to answer for centuries.
What makes Sir Gawain’s trials and the issue of whether he learns note-worthy is the well established reputation he has at the start of the story. Our first impression of him takes place in lines 343-361 where Gawain persuades Arthur to let him undertake the Green Knight’s challenge. By doing this he not only restores the round table’s reputation, but he willingly puts himself in harms way to protect King Arthur. As Gawain prepares for his journey, he is depicted as “devoid of all vice” (634), as well as “fairest-spoken” (639) among the knights of Arthur’s round table. These descriptions are especially significant because of Gawain’s social status; he is “reputed as virtuous” (633)...