A Teeny Bit on Chivalry in Sir Gawain

               Chivalry is a code of conduct and behavior that is often associated with Knighthood. Chivalric code called for the conduct of a Knight to be honorable, brave, courteous, gallant to ladies, a skilled fighter, a good Christian, to respect and honor their Lord, and to fight a fair battle. In the movies chivalry is depicted when the Knight in shining armor arrives on his stead to defend a Lady in distress from a terrifying dragon and in his coy behavior and politeness at her advances. Sir Lancelot, Arthur’s first and greatest Knight is a skillful and able protector in film (He also deals with lust but that is another story!). I often joke that “Chivalry is dead” when I have to do a “mans” job, inferring that my husband should possess a few more of these qualities in jest.

Sir Gawain practices chivalric code when he decides that he will openly admit to his sin, and not lie by wearing the girdle on his arm. He tells King Arthur’s Court on page 165 that “This is my blazon of the blemish that I bear on my neck” (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight). He does not want to be dishonest about what he considers was a failure on his part. One thing that was most surprising was how Gawain treats Lady Bertilak after he knows she was a part of Lord Bertilak’s moral test. He does not spite her, or get angry towards her. He admits his fault and still calls her Lord Bertilak’s “courteous wife” (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.2411). He acts gallant to her even after she has helped to trick him; by today’s standards it probably wouldn’t have gone so smoothly). He, in fact was practicing the code of honor towards women and did not disrespect her