The Role of Women in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay -- Essays P

The aim of Women in Sir Gawain and the Green horse cavalry In the 14th Century, Feudalism and its offspring, chivalry, were in twilight due to drastic social and stinting changes. In this light, _Sir Gawain and the Green Knight_ presents two a nostalgic support of the feudalistic hierarchies and an implicit criticism of changes, which, if left(p) unchecked will lead to its ultimate destruction. I would suggest that the women in the story are the Gawain poets primary instruments in this critique and reinforcement of Feudalism. By positioning The stark(a) Mary (as the unequaled female archetype representing religious eff, obedience, chastity, and life) against Morgan and Bertilaks wife (who represent the traditional female archetypes of courtly love, disobedience, lust and death) the Gawain poet points show up the conflict between courtly love and spiritual love which he, and other(a) critics of the time, felt had drastically weakened the ghostly determine behind chival ry. As such, the poem is a warning to its drab readers that the traditional religious value underlying the feudal system must be upheld in enact to avert destruction of their way of life. It is easily to read _Sir Gawain and the Green Knight_ as a romantic celebration of chivalry, scarce Ruth Hamilton believes that Sir Gawain and the Green Knight contains a more wide-ranging, more serious-minded criticism of chivalry than has thus far been noticed (113). Specifically, she feels that the poet is showing Gawains reliance on chivalrys outside form and stub at the expense of the original values of the Christian religion from which it sprang. As she shows, the eldest order of knights were monastic ones, who took vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity. The first duties th... ...eties facing Arthurs Camelot--specifically women, magic, adultery, and incest--with Morgan representing a trope for all the ills. Morgan, Gerald. The Action of the Hunting and chamber Scenes in Sir Ga wain and the Green Knight. modal(a) Aevum 56 (1987) 200-16. Morgan argues that a moral shinny is suggested by the juxtaposition of the inquisition scenes and the bedroom scenes, with the Lady in the component part of the hunter and Gawain as the hunted. Warner, Marina. unaccompanied of all Her Sex The Myth and the frenzy of the perfect(a) Mary. New York Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1976. Warners allow details the special importance of the Virgin Mary throughout Christianity and explores her religious and secular meaning. She discusses such things as the Churchs positioning toward virginity, the role model of the Virgin martyr, the Virgins relics, and her role as an intercessor with God. The Role of Women in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay -- Essays PThe Role of Women in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight In the Fourteenth Century, Feudalism and its offspring, chivalry, were in decline due to drastic social and economic changes. In this light, _Sir Gawain and t he Green Knight_ presents both a nostalgic support of the feudal hierarchies and an implicit criticism of changes, which, if left unchecked will lead to its ultimate destruction. I would suggest that the women in the story are the Gawain poets primary instruments in this critique and reinforcement of Feudalism. By positioning The Virgin Mary (as the singular female archetype representing spiritual love, obedience, chastity, and life) against Morgan and Bertilaks wife (who represent the traditional female archetypes of courtly love, disobedience, lust and death) the Gawain poet points out the conflict between courtly love and spiritual love which he, and other critics of the time, felt had drastically weakened the religious values behind chivalry. As such, the poem is a warning to its Aristocratic readers that the traditional religious values underlying the feudal system must be upheld in order to avert destruction of their way of life. It is easy to read _Sir Gawain and the Green Kn ight_ as a romantic celebration of chivalry, but Ruth Hamilton believes that Sir Gawain and the Green Knight contains a more wide-ranging, more serious criticism of chivalry than has heretofore been noticed (113). Specifically, she feels that the poet is showing Gawains reliance on chivalrys outside form and substance at the expense of the original values of the Christian religion from which it sprang. As she shows, the first order of knights were monastic ones, who took vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity. The first duties th... ...eties facing Arthurs Camelot--specifically women, magic, adultery, and incest--with Morgan representing a trope for all the ills. Morgan, Gerald. The Action of the Hunting and Bedroom Scenes in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Medium Aevum 56 (1987) 200-16. Morgan argues that a moral struggle is suggested by the juxtaposition of the hunt scenes and the bedroom scenes, with the Lady in the role of the hunter and Gawain as the hunted. Warner, Marina. Alone of all Her Sex The Myth and the Cult of the Virgin Mary. New York Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1976. Warners book details the special importance of the Virgin Mary throughout Christianity and explores her religious and secular meaning. She discusses such things as the Churchs attitude toward virginity, the role model of the Virgin martyr, the Virgins relics, and her role as an intercessor with God.