Topic > The pagan wickedness in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"

The story of Sir Gawain and his encounter with the Green Knight is a story that is intertwined with the deception and deception of characters who do not share the same values ​​as Sir Gawain ago. His moral standing as both a knight and a Christian is tested several times by seemingly evil people. However, there may be a deeper root to this evil that is not directly addressed in the story. Although the role of the villain can be assigned to many characters in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the real villain in the poem is paganism. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Paganism, which is a general term coined by Christians to define pre-Christian religions, makes its appearance in the tale of Sir Gawain in several forms (Stone, paragraph 1). But before we get to that, it is necessary to explain how these recurring pagan acts and behaviors play the role of the villain and therefore generate conflict for Sir Gawain. First, paganism does not respect Christian rules. First, pagans are polytheists, which directly contradicts the Christian belief that there is only one supreme God. A second difference that plays an important role in this story is the pagans' faith and use of magic to get things done. It could also be argued that it is faith in the individual that does not agree with the Christian belief that all faith and power is placed in God alone. The Bible itself even warns against resorting to magic and witchcraft stating : “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them, so as to make yourselves impure because of them. I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:31). So, knowing this, it is easier to understand the fear and amazement that gripped Sir Author's knights when this immeasurably tall and large man on horseback entered the Great Hall during their feast (Gawain, pg 6). During this exchange, the Green Knight proposes a challenge to the King and the entire hall of knights, in which he invites every day the bravest” said person must find the Green Knight and receive the same blow from the same ax from the hands of the Green Knight ( Gawain, page 11). This is all a ruse, however, and is the catalyst that truly begins the story. Sir Gawain, one of King Arthur's knights, accepts the challenge in Arthur's place and actually beheads the Green Knight. And to the astonishment of the entire hall, the knight takes his severed head, rides off into the sunset, and reminds Sir Gawain of the end of the pact (Gawain, p. 15). This is the first evil act of paganism and the problems dealing with non-Christians causes. And so begins Sir Gawain's battle, in which he must fight the temptation and deception of a religion that is not his own, a religion he knows nothing about and has no connection to. It could be compared to trying to win a game you've never played before, where everyone knows the rules except you. And pagan games like this are those that shake Sir Gawain in his virtues both as a knight and as a Christian. Sir Gawain, as a knight, was aware of the virtues that came with that title, and was described by the narrator as like. “Good was he, pure as refined gold, devoid of all wickedness, virtue enfolded him and grace…” (Sir Gawain, page 22). These virtues, however, were repeatedly tested by pagan acts and people. He is seen again in another game in the second book. Almost a year and a day have passed and Sir Gawain prepares to set out in search of the Green Knight on All Hallows' Eve. After months of travel in which he had to fight hunger and attacksof the animals and the impending winter, he prays to the Virgin Mary to find a castle where he can go somewhere for the Christmas mass. A glittering castle appears to Sir Gawain and, believing that his prayers have been answered, he seeks refuge within and is greeted by a large bearded guest who too eagerly welcomes him inside (Sir Gawain, pg. 24-29). Sir Gawain is invited to the great host's banquet where he asks him to stay a while to rest. He states, “You will remain long in bed, and, lingering, you will rest in the morning, nor arise for mass…” (Sir Gawain, p. 37). This should have been a red flag for Gawain. What honest Christian man would advise his guest not to get up for mass and not celebrate morning adoration? But, for Gawain, the invitation to a few good nights rest and free food allowed him to overlook that statement. Another red flag should have been his host's subsequent statement about how he would allow his wife, his beautiful wife, to keep him company while he went hunting every day (Sir Gawain, pg 37). Why would he leave his beautiful wife alone with another man, knight or not? Then comes the pact between Sir Gawain and the guest, in which he says that he will give everything he hunted that day to Sir Gawain in exchange for anything. Sir Gawain also received that day (Sir Gawain, page 37). So here is the beginning of another ploy by those who follow Paganism to weaken Sir Gawain both in his virtue as a knight and in his faith as a Christian. The host's wife certainly keeps Sir Gawain company; but only in an attempt to seduce him. For three days he tried, only managing to get kisses for his efforts. In particular, on the third day, she gives the knight three kisses and also manages to convince him to accept her belt, which according to her has a protective power. The lure of the Lady's lace was so powerful that Sir Gawain even lied about having obtained it when it came time to exchange his gifts with his host on page 64. Here he falters, in both major aspects of his life. His virtue as a knight was compromised when he accepted a deal and lied for personal gain, and his chastity and virtue as a Christian were compromised when he allowed the Lady of the castle to kiss him and accept his girdle. Paganism played a role in all of this, and this is especially seen towards the end of the poem, after Sir Gawain finds the Green Knight, is not beheaded by him, and the Green Knight explains everything. It turns out that Morgan la Faye, the sorceress, planned all this, transforming the host, whose name is Bertilak, into the Green Knight by changing his appearance and sending him to Camelot to propose the initial prank that caused all the events. following him (Sir Gawain, page 80). It was paganism that allowed these events to take place and caused Sir Gawain to slip into his moral character. If pagan followers such as Morgan the Faye, the Green Knight, and his wife had not begun to resort to deceit and sin to achieve their ends, Sir Gawain would have remained steadfast in his faith and continued to live peacefully in Camelot. those aren't the only things that would make her evil in this story. The extraordinarily evil part is that paganism allows supernatural beings to exist; those who exhibit powers that only God should wield. First, the Green Knight, who was, in fact, green in color and managed to have his head cut off and survive the blow (Sir Gawain, p. 6). Then there is the wife of the Green Knight or Bertilak, who has no supernatural powers, but uses her power of seduction several times to get the better of Sir Gawain. She is also the one who presents this "magic" belt to Sir Gawain (Sir Gawain, p..